FG Extends Deadline For Telcos To Block SIMs Without NIN

The Federal Government has extended the deadline issued to all
telecommunications operators in the country to block all Subscriber
Identification Modules (SIMs) without National Identification
Number (NIN).

This follows a meeting of the National Task Force on NIN and SIM
Registration which held on Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT).

The Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, and the Director-General
of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz,
confirmed the extension of the deadline in a statement released at
the end of the meeting.

According to the statement, the extension deadline issued to all
telecommunications forms part of the resolutions adopted at the
meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.

Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government, the meeting
approved three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from
December 30 to January 19, 2021.

It also agreed that registration for subscribers without NIN
should be extended by six weeks – from December 30 to February 9,
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 updating their identities; the Federal Government
also thanks all stakeholders for their compliance with the
directives,” the statement read.

President Muhammadu Buhari also commended the effort of the Task
Force and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension
to link their SIMs with their NIN.

The government insisted that the USSD and verification charges
for the purpose of linking SIMs with NIN remained suspended during
the period.

Those who attended the meeting included major stakeholders in
the sector, including the heads of NCC, NIMC, and the National
Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of telecommunications
operators such as MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble, were
also in attendance.

The Federal Government has extended the deadline issued to all
telecommunications operators in the country to block all Subscriber
Identification Modules (SIMs) without National Identification
Number (NIN).

This follows a meeting of the National Task Force on NIN and SIM
Registration which held on Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT).

The Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, and the Director-General
of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz,
confirmed the extension of the deadline in a statement released at
the end of the meeting.

According to the statement, the extension deadline issued to all
telecommunications forms part of the resolutions adopted at the
meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.

Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government, the meeting
approved three weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from
December 30 to January 19, 2021.

It also agreed that registration for subscribers without NIN
should be extended by six weeks – from December 30 to February 9,
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 updating their identities; the Federal Government
also thanks all stakeholders for their compliance with the
directives,” the statement read.

President Muhammadu Buhari also commended the effort of the Task
Force and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension
to link their SIMs with their NIN.

The government insisted that the USSD and verification charges
for the purpose of linking SIMs with NIN remained suspended during
the period.

Those who attended the meeting included major stakeholders in
the sector, including the heads of NCC, NIMC, and the National
Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of telecommunications
operators such as MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble, were
also in attendance.