The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated that the October 31 deadline for linking of National Identity Numbers with Subscriber Identity Modules for telephone subscribers in Nigeria remains sacrosanct and advised those that have not linked their NINs with SIMs to do so before the date.
The telecom industry regulator, while giving the advice at the NCC Digital Signature radio programme, which transmitted the second episode of Telecoms Consumer Town Hall on Radio (live on a radio station in Lagos, also hinted that Nigerians that failed to have NINs would soon be denied the opportunity of being issued driver’s licences and international passports.
The NCC, in a statement titled ‘NIN-SIM Integration: NCC sensitises telecom consumers on October 31 Deadline’ by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, reminded subscribers of the imperativeness of NIN registration and implications of failure to comply with the Federal Government’s directive.
He stated: “NCC has reminded and urged telecoms consumers to link their NINs with their SIMs before the expiration of the deadline of October 31, 2021 set by the Federal Government.”
Speaking during the live programme, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, advised Nigerians to make use of the extension of the NIN-SIM integration exercise to October 31, 2021, to enrol with NIMC, get their NINs and link them to their SIMs.”
Adinde further cautioned that soon, people without NIN will be denied of necessary services that play vital roles in their lives, including acquisition of driving licence, passport.
On the benefits of the NIN-SIM integration, the NCC spokesman explained that the exercise would significantly enhance national security as NIN is the primary identity for Nigerians, stressing that in line with government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria deploys technology to improve service delivery, the NIN-SIM database will enhance citizens’ access to government services.
Also speaking during the radio programme, NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Efosa Idehen, said that SIMs without unique identification could be used to commit crimes that remain untraceable.
In her remarks, the Regional Director of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Lagos, Funmi Opesanwo, said that submission of NIN to a mobile network provider remained helpful in providing a means of verifying an individual’s identity and safeguarding both identity and mobile line.
