The Interview Editors
The Ministerial Task Force set up ensure telecommunications subscribers to link their National Identity Number with their registered SIM cards has the deadline by three weeks for those who already have identity numbers.
In a statement jointly signed by Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission and Engr. Aliyu Aziz, the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, the Ministerial Task also extended the period of time for without a national ID to get registered by six weeks
The statement read, “The National Task Force on National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Registration met today, 21st December, 2020.
“The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman-Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC; Director-General (DG), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); DG, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS), NCC; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), NCC; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); Chief Executive Officers of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble in attendance.”
The resolutions reached, based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria, include; “Three (3) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021.
“Six (6) weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021.”
The statement noted that NIMC had provided strategies to enable citizens to 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, they said appreciated Nigerians for their patience and commitment to update their Identities; The Federal Government also thanks all stakeholders for their compliance with the directives.
The Task Force said, “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.
“Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and verification charges remain suspended during these extensions.”
