Business
FG Extends NIN-SIM Linkage To March, Issues 71m NINs

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for linkage of the National Identity Number (NIN) with the Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) data verification to March 31, 2022.
The government has also issued 71 million NINs with over 14,000 enrolment centres set up across the country.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed this in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ike Adinde, and the Head of Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Kayode Adegoke, and made available to journalists last Friday.
According to the two agencies, the NIMC has set up over 14,000 enrolment centres across the country and also set up enrolment centres in over 31 countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about three to four SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents, and this is truly commendable.
“Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022″, they stated.
The agencies said the extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.
According to the NCC, Nigeria had 229,582,206 connected SIM lines in October, out of which 191,618,839 were active.
The Tide reports that at least 101 million active telecom users are yet to link their NINs to their SIMs.
By: Corlins Walter