The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to the 30th of June, 2021.
DigitalTimesNG understands that the extension was the outcome of the virtual meeting chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and attended by the board Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr Aliyu Azeez.
The postponement of the deadline according to a statement jointly signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was also based on the request by stakeholders for an extension till 30th of June in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.
The statement disclosed that significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process, resulting in almost 54 million people having obtained their NIN translating to up to 190 million mobile numbers since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to 3 to 4 phone lines.
“The much-awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments.
“Furthermore, the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs,” the statement partly read.
Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of the National Identity Number for accessing several government services.
This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively.
DigitalTimesNG further learnt that the Federal Government has approved the enrollment extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN.
While highlighting the importance of citizens taking advantage of the extension, Dr Pantami thanked Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
He again reiterated the government’s commitment to continually take decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.
