The Federal Government has extended the deadline for linkage of the Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) cards with the National Identity Numbers (NIN) till March 31, 2022.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami, conveyed the approval of the Federal Government in a joint statement 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.
The government said 71 million citizens have been captured in the national database as at December 30.
The statement reads in part: “As of 30th December 2021, the NIMC has issued over 71million NINs with over 14,000 enrolment centres set up across the country.
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“Furthermore, the NIMC has also set up enrolment centres in over 31 countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about three to four SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.
“Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, 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 Honourable Minister has, however, implored Nigerians and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification.
“He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the NCC and the NIMC in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.”
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