The Federal Government on Tuesday announced the extension of the ongoing NIN-SIM data verification deadline to 30th of June, 2021 based on request by stakeholders in the nation’s telecommunications industry, especially the millions of yet-to-be-captured subscribers.
The approval for the extension of the deadline was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Kayode Adegoke.
The statement indicated that the extension was decided upon at the virtual meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami and attended by the chairman of NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof Umar Dambatta; and Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Azeez.
The government said significant progress had been made in the NIN-SIM verification process.
It clarified: “For example, almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN and this can translate to up to 190 Million mobile numbers since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to 3 to 4 phone lines.
“The much-awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments,” the government added.
This is even as the government confirmed that the telecom providers and other enrolment agents had also opened more centres nationwide to facilitate easier linkage of the NIN-SIM for telecom subscribers.
It expatiated: “It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of National Identity Number for accessing several government services.
“This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively”, FG added.
