The federal government has maintained its stance on the Wednesday deadline for the registration of all network subscribers on the national identification platform. The Nigeria Communications Commission NCC says its requirement for National Identity Numbers, NIN, is still in force.
Communications minister, Isa Pantami, says NIN is even mandatory for all diplomats in Nigeria, as well as for all other lawful residents across the country. Pantami said enrolment centres have been approved and set up at the foreign affairs ministry for such categories of people.
The federal government had issued a directive last month to all mobile network providers to block telephone lines that are not linked to a valid NIN. Nigerians have been seen in their hundreds at various NIN registration centers seeking to be enrolled.
NCC public affairs director, Ikechukwu Adinde, says the deadline was still in force and there was no update for now. Adinde said on Sunday any changes will be communicated.
On Thursday, it was reported that the NCC was awaiting the advice of the federal government as regards the stipulated deadlines.
“The deadlines are still in force; there is no update for now and just like I told you last week, if there is any change you will be communicated,” Adinde stated on Sunday.
Calls for deadline extension are mainly due to the large crowds that gather daily at the various offices of the National Identity Management Commission, as many telephone subscribers had yet to get their NINs.
Following the widespread opposition to the initial deadline for synchronization, the federal government gave a three-week extension for subscribers with NIN to link their SIM cards from December 30, 2020, to January 19, 2021. It also gave a six-week extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020, to February 9, 2021
As the nation experiences the second wave of the COVID-19, there have been calls for the deadline for the synchronization of NINs and SIM cards to be extended or better still be suspended.