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 enrollments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrollment 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 enrollment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN.

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.

As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrollment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrollment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.

There are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrollments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrollment 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 Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami,  lauds 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 enrollment and verification before the October 31 deadline.