TECH DIGEST – The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification till June 30, 2021.

A press statement jointly signed by, spokespersons of NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Kayode Adegoke confirmed the development on Tuesday.

It said the extension came after a virtual meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta; and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

TechDigest reports that the deadline was last extended on 2, April from April 6, 2021, to May 6, 2021, after participants at a meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on NIN-SIM data linkage agreed to have an extension of the process.

The statement said the extension of the deadline was based on a request by stakeholders who said postponing the exercise till June 30 will make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.

According to the statement, “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 3 to 4 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.’’

The statement said 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.

The statement quoted Pantami as thanking Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.

“He again reiterated government’s commitment to continue taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration”, it said.

The post FG Extends NIN-SIM Linkages Till June appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has denied reports alleging that the United States had placed him on their ‘watch list’ over alleged ties with the Boko Haram founder, Late Mohammed Yusuf.
On Monday, social media platform, Twitter, was awash with comments over the report published by some news platforms. While some critics of the minister dragged him over the unconfirmed reports and allegations, his supporters took to his defence.

Taking to his Twitter handle, the minister said he had been preaching against Boko Haram for 15 years. He said: “My lectures against the doctrines and all other evil people have been available for over 15 years, including debates that endangered my life against many criminals in Nigeria. “If you can’t understand Hausa, get an objective Hausa speaker to translate for you objectively.”

The minister, therefore, advised Nigerians disregard the allegation, saying that the sponsors of these publications are enemies of Nigeria.
According to him, no amount of intimation would stop him from implementing the good policies of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He added: “On the issue of NIN-SIM verification to fight insecurity, there is no going back.

Our priority as government based on the provision of our constitution 1999 (as amended) Section 14(2)b is security, not just economy.

“[It is] for sure, no going back at all. Let’s the sponsors continue.

“ No amount of intimation will stop Dr. IsaPantami from implementing d good policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on security.

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