The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has insisted on October 31 as the deadline given to Nigerians to link their National Identity Numbers (NIN) with their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM).
In a statement titled “NIN-SIM Integration: NCC sensitizes telecom consumers on October 31 Deadline”, the NCC reminded and urged telecoms consumers to link their NINs with their SIMs before the expiration of the deadline of October 31, 2021 set by the Federal Government.
It further said that Nigerians without NIN would soon be denied the opportunity of acquiring driving licences and passports.
The NCC disclosed this at its Digital Signature radio programme, which transmitted the second episode of Telecoms Consumer Town Hall on Radio to discuss the benefits of NIN-SIM integration.
Speaking during the live programme, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, advised Nigerians to make use of the extension of the NIN-SIM integration exercise to October 31, 2021, to enroll with NIMC, get their NINs and link them to their SIMs.
“Soon, people without NIN will be denied necessary services that play vital roles in their lives, including acquisition of driving licence and passport,” Adinde said.
On the benefits of the NIN-SIM integration, Adinde said the exercise will significantly enhance national security as NIN is the primary identity for Nigerians.
He also stressed that in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria deploys technology to improve service delivery, the NIN-SIM database will enhance citizens’ access to government services.”
On his part, the NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, said, “those SIMs without unique identification could be used to commit crimes that remain untraceable.”
The Regional Director of NIMC in Lagos, Funmi Opesanwo, who also spoke on the programme, said that submission of NIN to a mobile network provider helped to provide a means of verifying an individual’s identity and safeguarding both identity and mobile line.
Amaka E. Nliam/Nairametrics