Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The total number of Nigerians with the National Identification Number (NIN) grew by 6.1 per cent to 57.3 million in June 2021.
This was disclosed by the federal government of Nigeria as it approved the extension of the deadline for NIN and SIM Card data integration to July 26, 2021.
The number was about 54 million as of May 2021, meaning that 3.3 million Nigerians were onboarded in the space of one month.
The FG had previously extended the deadline to June 30 in order to allow SIM card users to link them with their NIN.
However, the decision to extend the deadline, according to a joint statement signed by Director, Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Kayode Adegoke, 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 effort 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 an 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.
“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, appreciate Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
“The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification”, the statement said.
Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of the National Identity Number for accessing several government services.
This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively.
The federal government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.
