Nigeria’s government has extended the deadline for SIM/National Identification Number (NIN) integration to 9 February.

According to a statement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a review meeting on 18 January 2021, the Technical Implementation Committee under the Ministerial Task Force reported significant progress in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

The Commission said a total of 47.8 million NINs have been collected by mobile operators.

“At an average of three to four SIMs per subscriber, this means many millions will be linked up before the deadline in February 2021,” the regulator stated.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, described this as a commendable achievement.

However, the process has come under fire by citizens who criticised authorities for resulting mass public gatherings that could fuel the spread of COVID-19.

ITWeb Africa reported citizens have also complained of illegal exploitation avenues premised upon the several loopholes in the structuring of the exercise.

While the Minister urged the technical team to fast-track processes, several bottlenecks remain.

Validation of a SIM card on the NIMC (National Identity Management Commission) platform requires an OTP code that is sent to the line, but it is possible to link up with other devices that use SIM cards but cannot receive SMS, including cars and modems.

Additionally, expatriates are concerned they may be unable to comply because they are unable to access NIN registration facilities.

Seun Adedigba, who emigrated to Texas, is using two Nigerian SIM cards for active business purposes.

“I’m not coming to Nigeria anytime soon. I’ve not obtained my NIN and I don’t know what will happen from February 9 onwards,” he told ITWeb Africa.

The Technical Committee argued they’ve made it easier for Nigerians anywhere to integrate NINs with SIM details, but the service only works for those users who already possess a NIN.

New applications require physical appearance at NIMC offices for biometric registration.

This cloud of uncertainty has led to the emergence of NIN trade, in which individuals with the NIN register other people’s mobile numbers as theirs, considering the regulator allows up to seven SIM cards to be linked to a NIN.

The Minister urged Nigerians to desist from this practice and warned: “For any action committed with the SIM, good or bad, it will be officially traced and attached to the NIN owner.”