By Uche Mbah
The Federal government Monday extended the deadline for the registration and linking of the National Identity Number with Sim cards by three weeks.
Government had given two weeks, which ends on December 31, 2020, for the registration and linking of NIN with the cards, threatening any network provider that violates the directive with License withdrawal. SERAP, a Non Governmental Organization, had taken government to court, insisting that it is unnecessary because Nigerians have their data captured in many other programs, and all the Government should do is link up all data bases together.
Besides, the chaotic situation at the NIN office in Alausa ikeja that went viral on Social Media was a great indictment on a Government that has been preaching Social distancing in view of the new virulent strain of Coronavirus.
Taking cognizance of all these, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, finally approved the extension of the deadline by three weeks.
In a statement signed by Head, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, Monday, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, said the deadline has been extended from December 30, 2020 to January 19, 2021 for subscribers with the National Identification Number (NIN), and six weeks, beginning from December 30, 2020 to the February 19, 2021,for subscribers without the NIN.
According to the statement, the Commission approved the extension after the review of all mandates by the Presidential Task Force on the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Information Module (SIM), chaired by the Minister and involving stakeholders which includes the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar G. Danbatta; Director General, National Information Technology and Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi; Chairman ALTON; and CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Mobile.
The Minister had earlier, in agreement with stakeholders, resolved to suspend all USSD and verification charges during the extension period.
“NIMC, therefore, wishes to assure members of the general public that adequate measures are being put in place to enable citizens and legal residents to enroll and be issued the NIN.
“Applicants are enjoined to comply with the Covid-19 safety protocols at NIMC enrolment centers nationwide,” the statement said.
