Nigerian NIN-SIM Verification Reaches 54M – Deadline Extended to June 30

The extension comes four months after the initial deadline and one month after the last extension, beginning of April. It was as a result of a virtual meeting chaired by Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. The postponement of the deadline was also based on the request by stakeholders for an extension till 30th of June, 2021 in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.

Significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process. For example, almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN and this can translate to up to 190 million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to three to four phone lines.

The much-awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments.

Furthermore, the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs.

“I wish to thank Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise. The government is committed to continually taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.”

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy

The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.