To ensure Nigerians in remote, hard-to-reach areas, schools and health centres link their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) with their National Identity Number (NIN), the Federal Government has decided to extend NIN-SIM data verification to October 31, 2021.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission and Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications at the National Identity Management Commission.
The decision to extend the deadline 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.
“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 statement reads.
As of 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 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 an 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 citizen living in the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs.
Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the October 31 deadline.
