The Federal Government has approved the extension of NIN-SIM data verification deadline to July 26, 2021.
The extension was disclosed by the Director, Public Affairs Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde; and the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke, in a joint statement on Monday titled ‘FG approves July 26 as NIN-SIM verification deadline as enrolment systems increase to 5,410 .’
The earlier deadline had been set for Wednesday, 30 June. The NIN-SIM data verification which was mandated by the FG in December 2020 was first set to close on December 30, 2020, two weeks after the exercise started in the country. However, the deadline has been shifted several times since then.
According to the statement, the latest decision to extend the deadline was made based on a request by stakeholders.
The enrolment systems has increased from 800 as at December 2020 to 5,410 as at 28 June 2021, the statement said.
It added that there are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.
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The statement read in part, “The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to the 26th of July, 2021.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country.
“As at June 28, 2021, a total of 5,410 enrolment systems are now available across the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. It is worthy of note that there were only about 800 such enrolment systems as at December 2020.
“The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its efforts to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.
“There are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
