The Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM data linkage has extended the period of the NIN-SIM linkage to May 6, 2021.
The extension, according to the Taskforce, enjoyed a presidential endorsement.
It said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the request for extension of the period consequent upon presentation to him.
A statement jointly signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, on Thursday, announced the extension of the time fir NIN-SIM linkage.
According to the statement, “Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, chaired the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM data linkage.
“The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Representative of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
“Others included the NCC Executive Commissioners Technical Services and Stakeholder Management, MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, EMTS (9Mobile), NTEL, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Glo.
“The meeting took place on Thursday, April 1, 2021 and an approval was given to extend the period of the NIN-SIM linkage to the 6th of May, 2021. The request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.
“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 statement disclosed that the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, addressed the meeting and stated that the NIN-SIM linkage would
support the Federal Government in checkmating the activities of fraudsters and cybercriminals.
The minister, as indicated by the statement, noted the importance of obtaining feedback from all stakeholders in order to ensure that the NIN-SIM linkage process was one that could not easily be compromised.
Dr Pantami reportedly thanked Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
He was said to have reiterated government’s commitment to continually take decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.
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