The stakeholders have applauded the Federal Government on
the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive
to enlighten Nigerians and legal residents across the country. As of 30th
December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued
over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen thousand (14,000)
enrolment centres set up across the country.
Furthermore, the National Identity Management Commission
(NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to
cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora. The
unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million
unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN,
reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace
and legal residents and this is truly commendable.
Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens,
legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has
extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal
Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment
of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals,
worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.
The Honourable Minister has however implored Nigerians and
legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this
period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for
identification. He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to
support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity
Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise
are achieved.
The Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of
NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr.
Aliyu A. Aziz, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, wish to thank all
Nigerians and stakeholders for their commitment and support towards the success
of the project. They also applaud the efforts of the respective staff in
ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge citizens and legal residents to
complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before
31st March 2022.