A total of 47.8 million NINs have been collected by Nigeria’s mobile telecom operators, DigitaTimesNG can authoritatively report.
This disclosure was made in a statement signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s Director of Public Affairs on Tuesday and made available to DigitalTimesNG.
DigitalTimesNG understands that at an average of three to four SIMs per subscriber, millions of telephone subscribers will be linked up before the deadline in February 2021.
Adinde said in the statement that at the end of a review meeting held on 18th January 2021, the Technical Implementation Committee under the Ministerial Task Force reported significant progress in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage exercise.
The statement said that while reacting to the report, an elated Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, expressed satisfaction with this commendable achievement.
Pantami expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation for the commitment demonstrated by all stakeholders and citizens and urged them to submit their NINs before 9th February 2021 deadline.
He further urged the technical team to fast-track the processes so that the project is delivered soonest.
DigitalTimesNG understands that the Technical Committee drew attention to the App developed by the Federal Government which allows subscribers to link up to a maximum of seven (7) SIMs to their NIN.
He reminded Nigerians to secure and protect their NINs, urging subscribers to desist from selling their NINs or allowing others to use their NINs for registration.
“For any act committed with the SIM, good or bad, it will be officially traced and attached to the NIN owner,” the Minister warned.