FG extends NIN to SIM linkage to July 26
Chidi Ogbuokiri
The Federal Government has announced the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021.
A statement the Director , Public Affair, Nigerian Vommunications Commission (NCC) Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Head , Cirporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Kayode Adegoke, disclosed that the decision to exhe deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country.
As at June 28, 2021, a total of 5,410 enrolment systems are now available across the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. It is worthy of note that there were only about 800 such enrolment systems as at December 2020.
The statement disclosed that the Federal Government approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension. There are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of three to four SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs.
The statement further quoted the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ibrahim Pantami as appreciating Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification.