The Federal Government has approved the extension of the
deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM) data verification to October 31, 2021.
The decision to extend the deadline was made following a
request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-
to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions,
diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and
hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.
The decision also followed a review of the progress of the
exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need
to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM
verification process across the country.
As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems
within and outside the country and this would significantly
ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of
NIN to SIM.
The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu
Buhari, GCFR, has approved the extension as part of efforts to
make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country,
and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to
take advantage of the extension.
The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for the security
agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant
parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital
Economy are supporting them as required.
There are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments,
with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of
enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many
more coming up, every citizen, legal resident, and Nigerian
citizens living in diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs.
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, PhD, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, on
behalf of the Federal Government, commends the Kano State
government and other States that have made NINs a key
requirement for school enrolments and access to other
important services.
The Federal Government is also excited at the news that the
use of NIN in the process of the Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam significantly reduced the
challenge of exam malpractice.
The Minister, on behalf of the Federal Government, appreciates
Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal
Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba
Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of the National
Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez,
urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the
opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and
verification before the October 31 deadline.
Signed:
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde
Director, Public Affairs
Nigerian Communications Commission
&
Mr. Kayode Adegoke Head, Corporate Communications,
National Identity Management Commission
July 25, 2021
