The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.
Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, on Friday said that the federal government has been applauded by stakeholders in the sector for the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerians and legal residents across the country.
A joint signed statement by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission shows that as of 30th December 2021,NIMC has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country.
Furthermore, the Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
According to the statement, the unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.
This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.
The Honourable Minister has however implored Nigerians and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.
The Honourable Minister, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz, further thanked Nigerians and stakeholders for their commitment and support towards the success of the project.
They also applauded the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge citizens and legal residents to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31st March 2022.
