FG extends NIN-SIM integration after Minister threatens citizens yet to register with imprisonment
Following the recent outcry from Nigerians about the proposed date for blockage of SIM Cards not linked to NIN, the federal government has extended the deadline for linking subscriber Identification Modules with valid National Identity Numbers by one month.
This announcement was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the spokesperson of the National Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke.
The deadline was extended from April 6, 2021, to May 6, 2021, after participants at the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on NIN-SIM data linkage agreed to have an extension of the process.
The statement read in part, “The meeting took place on Thursday, April 1, 2021, and approval was given to extend the period of the NIN-SIM linkage to the 6th of May, 2021.
“The request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.”
Chairing the meeting was the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
Other are the meeting were key stakeholders, including the NIMC, Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria officials.
The extension was announced after Mr Pantami had earlier threatened citizens who are yet to register for NIN with 14 years imprisonment.
The statement also stated that based on the updates of the NIN registration process, over 51 million people had been assigned NINs.
