Nigeria’s government has again extended the deadline for the registration of valid National Identity Number (NIN) and SIM cards with phone operators.

The new deadline is now 31 October 2021.

The NIN/SIM registration policy directs all subscribers of telecommunications services to obtain a NIN and integrate it with their SIM registration details.

The process started in December 2020 with the objective to strengthen mobile security within the West African country.

Telecommunication operators and other enrolment agents have opened centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens to obtain and link their NINs.

Director of public affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Ike Adinde said the decision to extend the deadline follows a request from stakeholders for the government to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, “for diplomatic missions and the diaspora.”

He said the extension will also help address low enrolments in schools and hospitals.

Adinde said: “There are now 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments with average of three to four SIM cards per NIN.”

The Chairman of the Association for Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo said the extension shows that the government understands the plight of the people with respect to the manner they accessed enrolment centres and also recognises the concerns of operators.

He was quoted by a local newspaper The Guardian as saying, “We believe the extension of time will enable better access and hopefully by the end of the extension, we will have a situation of just walk in, capture and get NIN more so often when mobile operators are ramping up enrolments and other required capacity very rapidly.”

Nigeria has over 188 million mobile phone subscribers.