By Ridwan Adewuyi
The National Communication Commission (NCC) Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has confirmed the extension of the deadline for the provision of the National Identification Number by telecommunication service subscribers.
Last week, the commission asked all telecommunications companies to within two weeks block all Sim Card not linked to NIN.
This consequently resulted in uncontrollable crowds at NIMC offices across the country amidst the second wave of COVID-19.
In the light of this, a new deadline has been announced in a statement released, on Monday, by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
“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 statement explained.
The release was jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz.
The statement titled: “Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees’ read, “The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today, 21st December 2020.
“The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman – NCC, EVC-NCC, DG-NITDA, DG-NIMC, ECTS/ECSM-NCC, Chairman ALTON, CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble in attendance.
“Three (3) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN start from 30th December 2020 to 19th January 2021″, the statement concluded.
