The federal government yesterday extended the deadline for telecommunications subscribers to register their phone lines with national identification number (NIN from the December 30, 2020 to February 9, 2021.
The government decision followed the overcrowding at the offices of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in some states amid calls for Nigerians to extend the deadline in view of the resurgence of Covid-19 and the Christmas holidays.
According to the government, the National Task Force on National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM Registration met yesterday chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) comprising major stakeholders in the sector including chairman and executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) respectively; director-general, NIMC.
Others at the meeting include: director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); executive commissioners, technical services and stakeholder management both of NCC; chairman, Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and chief executive officers, of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble took the new decision.
A statement jointly signed by the EVC of NCC, professor Umar Danbatta and DG of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz stated that federal government endorsed a three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021.
Also, endorsed was a six weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021. “NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.
“The President appreciates Nigerians for their patience and commitment to update their Identities; The Federal Government also thanks all stakeholders for their compliance with the directives.
“Mr. President has also commended the efforts of the Task Force and urges all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension to link their SIM card with their NIN. USSD and verification charges remain suspended during these extensions,” the statement ended.
In his reaction, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, said the extension of the deadline by the federal government was a welcome development, urging that the necessary infrastructure be put in place to ensure seamless registration of Nigerians who don’t have the National Identity Number (NIN).
“In our previous intervention, we stated that two weeks deadline was not enough to register every Nigerian wit mobile line at NIMC end. The difficulty of the two weeks deadline stemmed from the fact that there is a second wave of Covid-19, the approaching yuletide holidays which will last for at least two weeks and thirdly, from our understanding that the NIMC infrastructure to handle the NIN is still being expected from abroad.
“Our appeal is that people should not leave it till the last week of the newly extended deadline or else what we witnessed in the last few days will still recur. Majority of Nigerians with mobile lines don’t have NIN, they should make effort to register to reduce crowding in February while those with NIN should avail themselves of the short codes from the telecom operators to virtually pair their mobile lines with the NIN,” the ATCON president added.
Also, national chairman, Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said ALTON was part of the meeting where the decision was taken. “WE would issue a follow up statement tomorrow,” he added.