The Federal Government has extended the period of registration for telephone subscribers without the National Identification Number (NIN) by six weeks.
With the new development, the registration will now terminate on February 9, 2021.
In addition, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and verification charges remain suspended during these extensions.
These were some of the resolutions taken by the National Task Force on National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Registration at a meeting on Monday, 21st December 2020.
In a release signed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and made available to DigitalTimesNG, the Task Force further granted three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December 2020 to 19th January 2021.
The Task Force further disclosed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has provided strategies to enable citizens to attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.
Danbatta stated in the release that while President Buhari appreciates Nigerians for their patience and commitment to update their Identities, the Federal Government also thanks all stakeholders for their compliance with the directives.
“Mr President has also commended the efforts of the Task Force and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension to link their SIM card with their NIN,” Danbatta said in the statement.
The Task Force meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC; and Director-General (DG), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in attendance.
Others at the meeting included the DG, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS), NCC; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), NCC; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); Chief Executive Officers of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Mobile.