The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26.
The earlier deadline lapses June 30.
The latest 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, a total of 5,410 enrolment systems were available across the country, which would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.
The enrollment systems were just 800 as at December 2020.
A statement jointly signed by the Public Affairs Director, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and Head, Corporate Affairs, National Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke, on Tuesday said the Federal Government approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for citizens and residents to obtain the NIN.
NIMC disclosed that there are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.
According to the statement, with the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NIN.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government thanked Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the directive on the NIN-SIM registration.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Aliyu Azeez, urged citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification.