Citizens/Legal Residents of Nigeria waiting for their NIN-SIM registration at a center in Ikeja, Lagos State. Date: December, 2020
(Source: Guardian NG)
The initial deadline for NIN-SIM data verification which was fixed by the Federal Government for June 30, 2021, has been extended to July 26, 2021.
This deadline has been extended seven times over. The first deadline was December 30, 2020, two weeks after the commencement of the verification in the country.
The Guardian reports that the latest decision to extend the deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country.
According to reports, the enrolment systems were just 800 as at December, 2020 but currently, from yesterday being Monday, June 28, 5,410 enrolment systems are now available across the country – which makes it easier for the NIN enrolment process and linkage of NIN to SIM subsequently.
Why did FG Extend the Deadline Again?
The reason for the extension is to ensure that all citizens and residents of Nigeria obtain their NIN, and with ease now since more enrollment centers are available.
The Public Affairs Director, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Head, Corporate Affairs, NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, co-signed a statement on Tuesday, June 29 which captured the extension approval by FG as part of its effort to make it easier for her citizens and residents to obtain the NIN.
NIMC disclosed that there are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.
According to the statement, with the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, appreciated Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the directive from Federal Governmen on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Azeez, urged citizens and legal residents to use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification.
