FG Announces New Deadline For NIN-SIM Linkage

The federal government on Saturday, announced an extension of the deadline for Nigerians to link their National Identity Numbers (NIN) with the Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) cards.

The previous extension granted by the government was due to expire on the 31st of October 2021 but has again been extended.

The new extension urged Nigerians to get the linkage done “before the end of the year 2021.”

Announcing the linkage, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami said the extension was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari based on appeals made by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders.

Pantami communicated the decision in a statement on his behalf by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Kayode Adegoke.

He observed that there has been remarkable progress in the compliance level for the NIN-SIM linkage but many people in difficult-to-reach places remain uncaptured.

The statement reads: “The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.”

“The review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.

“However, a significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which may be due to some challenges which the Federal Government has looked into and has made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.

“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.

” The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the Government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies.

“The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has graciously approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM.

“The Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN.

” Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector.

“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project.

“With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister enjoins Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs.”