The Federal Government has extended the linking of National Identity Number (NIN) with the (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) by telecommunications subscribers to the end of this year.
This was disclosed in a statement signed the by Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ikechukwu Adinde the Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke.
The statement said “stakeholders Applaud the NIN-SIM Verification Exercise as FG Urges Citizens and Legal Residents to Enrol Before the End of the Year.”
The statement said the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami conveyed the approval of the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification.
The government urged citizens and legal residents to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.
“The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.
“The review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage,” the statement noted.
The statement, however, observed that a significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which is said may be due to some challenges which the Federal Government has looked into and has made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.
“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the Government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies”, the statement said.
“The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has graciously approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM.
“The Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law-abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN. The government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector.
“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project.
“With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.
“Consequently, the Honourable Minister enjoins Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs. On behalf of the FGN, the Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz, urge citizens and legal residents to take advantage of the window to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the end of the year 2021,” the statement added.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM RULERS’ WORLD
“We had some really good, quality time there,” Jeff Bezos said of travelling outside of Earth with his brother Mark.
Makinde reappoints, swears-in seven Commissioners in Oyo
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has on Friday reappointed and sworn in seven commissioners in the state.
SHOCKER: World Athletics Body sends 10 Nigeria athletes out of Olympics
As huge a number as 10 Nigerian Track and Field athletes have been sent packing from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for not meeting the testing conditions of the Athletics Integrity Unit of the sport.
Pomp and ceremony as Iloko-Ijesa gets new Monarch
Iloko-Ijesa, a rustic town in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, came alive Saturday, 24 July 2021, as dignitaries in Nigeria and the Diaspora stormed the town to witness the coronation and presentation of staff and instruments of office to Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, Ajagbusi-Ekun VI, the new Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa Kingdom.
Nigerians in Asia seek FG’s probe of maltreatment, harassment of citizens
A group, Stakeholders of Nigerians in Asia has called on President, Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the alleged continue maltreatment, inhuman and xenophobic attacks on Nigerians across the Asia continent.
Seven die of cholera outbreak in Enugu
No fewer than seven persons have died from a cholera outbreak at the new Artisan Market in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State.
%20by%20telecommunications%20subscribers%20to%20the%20end%20of%20this%20year.){kind=link}