FG Extends NIN-SIM Linkage By One Month, As NIN Database Exceeds 51 Million
The Federal Government has extended the period of the NIN-SIM linkage to May 6, 2021.
Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who disclosed this said the request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.
The decision to extend the period of NIN-SIM data linkage was taken at meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM linkage chaired by Dr Pantami.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including EVC/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, DG/CEO of National Information Technoly Development Agency, NITDA, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Representative of the Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON.
Others include; NCC Executive commissioners, Technical Services and Stakeholders Management, MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, EMTS (9Mobile), Ntel Spectranet and SMILE as well as COO of Glo.
Based on the updates of the NIN-registration process, over 51 million people have been assigned NINs. There are many people, who have enrolled and are in the process of being assigned NINs. With each individual having an average of 3 to 4 SIMs, the total number of SIMs tied to NINs would be close to the total number of registered SIMs in the country.
The current number of monthly enrolments has increased significantly to about 2.6 million registrations. There has also been a remarkable increase in the number of enrolment centres across the country with about 3,800 centres available for enrolments. There are also many more new centres in the pipeline.
The Chairman of the EFCC addressing the meeting stated that the NIN-SIM linkage would support the Federal Government in checkmating the activities of fraudsters and cybercriminals.
The Minister noted the importance of obtaining feedback from all stakeholders in order to ensure that the NIN-SIM linkage process is one that cannot easily be compromised.
Pantami thanked Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
He reiterated government’s commitment to continually taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.
