The Federal Government has extended the dateline for the registration of National Identity Number (NIN) data to Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards for Nigerians who could not register before now. Earlier, the Federal government gave December 31st, 2021 for the registration which would have expired tonight for the exercise. The information was made public through a joint statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr Ike Adinde and the Head of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Kayode Adegoke, saying march 31st, 2022 is now the new dateline.
The statement partly said, “The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FBCS, FNCS, FIIM, wishes to convey the approval of the Federal Government to further extend the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.”
“The stakeholders have applauded the Federal Government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerians and legal residents across the country. As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country, the statement added.
The NINC explained that the commission will set up 31 different registration centres across 31 counties to carter for Nigerians in Diaspora, saying, The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.
The statement further stated, “Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the Diasporas, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like
the remote areas, Diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents,” the statement read.
The statement concluded, “The Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, wishes to thank all Nigerians and stakeholders for their commitment and support towards the success of the project. They also applaud the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge citizens and legal residents to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31st March 2022”.
