FG extends SIM-NIN linkage till October 31 as enrolment hits N59.8m

The federal government has extended the national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise till October 31.

In a statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, director of public affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the decision to further extend the deadline was made based on the need to “accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, and Nigerians in the diaspora”.

The deadline was shifted from the previous date of July 26, 2021.

The statement said there are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.

“The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to October 31, 2021,” the statement reads.

“The decision to extend the deadline was made following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.

“The decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

“As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.

“The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

“The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for the security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required.

“There are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, every citizen, legal resident, and Nigerian citizens living in diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs.

It quoted Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, as thanking “Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise”.