Last updated on August 6th, 2023 at 07:06 am
The integration of the National Identity Number with phone numbers (NIN-SIM) has been extended by the Federal Government.
The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy made the announcement on Monday, December 21, 2020
New Date: January 19, 2021
Old date: December 21, 2020
In a statement titled, ‘Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees’, was jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz
It read:
“The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today, 21st December 2020.
“The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman – NCC, EVC-NCC, DG-NITDA, DG-NIMC, ECTS/ECSM-NCC, Chairman ALTON, CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble in attendance.
What this means for those you are yet to link NIN to their phone numbers:
1) Three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December 2020 to 19th January 2021; and
2) Six weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December 2020 to 9th February 2021
It’s also gathered that NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens to attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – “particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.”
The agency had last week ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN.
MTN, Airtel, GLO, and 9Mobile quickly rolled out USSD codes and guides on how their subscribers could link their line to their NIN.
Because of the deadline, on Monday, December 21, 2020, hundreds of Lagosians besieged NIMC offices across Lagos State in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number.
Shut Down Of Some Enrolment Centers
Following a total disregard to the COVID-19 guides at NIMC offices in Lagos, some enrolment centres in Lagos were shut down
“This was due to the non-adherence to the Covid-19 pandemic prevention protocols.
No Face mask, no physical distancing, etc. As a control measure, the Commission would be adopting a *number-issuing* style in the meantime. A determined number will be issued daily on a first-come-first-served basis.
NIMC in a statement stated that its action is to manage the crowd in line with established covid-19 regulations.
We hereby regret any inconvenience this action must have caused. The Commission will continue to devise ways to serve the public better, it tweeted on Monday.
