FG extends deadline for NIN-SIM linkage by four weeks

Federal Government has extended the deadline for linking Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) with valid National Identity Numbers (NIN) by one month.

It announced the extension on Friday in a joint statement issued in Abuja by the spokesperson of the National Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke and Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde.

The deadline was extended from April 6, 2021, to May 6, 2021, after participants at the meeting of Ministerial Task Force on NIN-SIM data linkage agreed to have an extension of the process.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami the statement expressed that the request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.

Pantami said the current number of monthly enrolment has increased significantly to about 2.6 million.

The statement continued;

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.

With each individual having an average of 3 to 4 SIMs, the total number of SIMs tied to NINs would close to the total number of registered SIMs in the country.

The Chairman of the EFCC addressed the meeting and stated that the NIN-SIM linkage would support the Federal Government in checkmating the activities of fraudsters and cybercriminals. The Honourable 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.

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).