SIM registration: Nigerian govt extends deadline for NIN update by 6 weeks

Telecommunication

Nigerian government, on Monday, announced an extension to the deadline earlier given for the provision of National Identification Number (NIN) by telecommunication service subscribers.

The Federal Government made this known in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The statement entitled, ‘Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees,’ jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz, reads: “The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today, 21st December, 2020.

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“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.

“Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the following resolutions were made:

“Three (3) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021; and

“Six (6) weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021.

“NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.”

Earlier last week, the NCC had ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN, which resulted in crowd of people besieging the NIMC offices in Lagos on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number.

Following the development, the House of Representatives and several Nigerians expressed concern over the Federal Government’s sudden directive, and asked for the extension of the deadline given for the registration.