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About 47.8 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) have been collected by the mobile operators and submitted to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This is so even as the 9th February, 2021 deadline draws nearer for subscribers to link their NINs to their subscriber identification module (SIM), widely known as a SIM card.
According to a statement issued today in Abuja by Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the federal government is glad over the pace of the NIN-SIM linkage exercise despite challenges and concerns in some quarters over the viability of the deadline.
“At the end of a review meeting on 18th January 2021, the Technical Implementation Committee under the Ministerial Task Force has reported significant progress in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage exercise.
So far a total of 47.8 million NINs have been collected by the mobile operators. At an average of 3 to 4 SIMs per subscriber, this means many millions will be linked up before the deadline in February 2021,” said Adinde in the statement.
Adding: “Reacting to the report, the minister expressed satisfaction with this commendable achievement. He expressed the federal government’s appreciation for the commitment demonstrated by all stakeholders and citizens and urged them to submit their NINs before 9th February, 2021 deadline
“The minister urged the technical team to fast-track the processes so that the project is delivered soonest.
“The Technical Committee drew attention to the app developed by [the federal government] which allows subscribers to link up to a maximum of seven SIMs to their NIN.
“The minister concluded by reminding Nigerians to secure and protect their NINs, urging subscribers to desist from selling their NINs or allowing others to use their NINs for registration. “For any action committed with the SIM good or bad it will be officially traced and attached to the NIN owner”, the minister warned.”
