The National Task Force on the National Identity Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration on Tuesday explained why the Federal Government extended registration for the NIN by up to six weeks, from Dec. 30 to Feb. 9, 2021, and cancelled the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) charges for verification across the country.
The National Task Force in a statement jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr Aliyu Aziz, indicated that the decision was sequel to resolutions adopted at a meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital economy, Dr Isa Pantami, to re-appraise the NIN exercise so far.
The resolutions partly stated that “three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from Dec. 30, 2020 to Jan. 19, 2021. Six weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from Dec. 30, 2020 to Feb. 9, 2021, while USSD and verification charges remain suspended during these extensions”.
The minister was quoted as saying that the “NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with COVID-19 protocols, particularly the use of facemasks, which remains mandatory, and maintenance of social distancing”.
Pantami said President Muhammadu Buhari commended Nigerians for their commitment to update their identities and thanked all stakeholders for complying with the directives.
According to the minister, President Buhari also lauded the Task Force for its efforts to ensure compliance with the government’s order and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension to link their SIM cards with their NIN.
