Communication

Reps Backs Use Of NIN for Sim Registration

By Web News 432

House of Representatives has passed the second reading of a bill for an act to make mandatory the use of the National Identity Number (NIN) in the registration of SIM cards by all mobile telecommunication network operators with the Identity Management Commission.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, the sponsor, Mr Sergius Ogun, noted that though the Executive had already started the process of getting all users of mobiles phones to link their SIM cards to their NIN, the bill was necessary to give legislative backing to the measure taken by the Executive.

Mr Ogun stated that the bill was the legislative contribution to the ongoing fight against the increasing cases of criminality in the country orchestrated by bandits, terrorists, internet fraudsters and armed robbers, who take advantage of easy access to telecom networks.

The lawmaker added that amending the NIMC Act, to include registration of SIM cards with every subscriber’s NIN, would make it easy to uncover the identity behind various criminal activities being carried out in society.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

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Telecommunication

FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline To October 31st

By Web News 642

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN, with the hope that concerned individuals will take advantage of the extension.

This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission.

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 enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.
It would be recalled that before this new extension, the federal government had set 26 of July, 2021 as the deadline for NIN- SIM linkage.

The new decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

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.

Available statistics from NCC show that there are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. Accordingly, the Commission believes that with the great number of enrolment 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.
“As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM”, the statement added.

Penangle

Lifestyle

NIN Registration Extended By Eight Weeks

By Web News 620

The Ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise has been extended by 8 weeks, with a new deadline of April 6.

In a joint statement released by the Nigeria Communications commission,  NCC and the National Identity Management Commission,  NIMC, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami during the meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration stated that the extension is to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with the SIM.

The statement indicates that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators so far with Each NIN usually tied to an average of 3 to 4 SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.

The release also indicates that this number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021 while over 1060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opening hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.

Dr. Pantami reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enroll for their NIN and link with their SIMs.

Meanwhile the statements says President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the progress made regarding the NIN-SIM linkage and commended the Honourable Minister and all stakeholders.

Olayemi Daniyan