Nigerians express mixed reaction on NIN-SIM Linkage deadline extension

By Stellamaris Ashinze
Nigerians have expressed divergent views on the extension of the deadline for the link between the National Identification Number (NIN) and the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) by the federal government.

Some subscribers and sellers reacted in separate interviews with the Nigeria News Agency (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that April 6 was supposed to be the deadline for Nigerians to link their NINs to their SIM cards, but the exercise has been extended again by one month until May 6.

Mr Thomas Adegoke, a self-employed worker, expressed his enthusiasm for the extension saying that it had been difficult to register due to the crowds at registration centers.

Adegoke said he wanted to get the NIN because besides linking it to his SIM card, it could be used for other forms of identification.

“The extension is a blessing for those of us who are not yet registered and who are associating our SIMS. ”

Ms Vivian Ilechukwu, another interviewee, said the extension was appreciated as it would allow her to enroll her child in the NIN to be eligible for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam.

Ilechukwu said individual efforts were made to register the child, but due to school activities it was difficult, but with the extension it would be possible.

A SIM card provider, Miss Blessing Okon, expressed disappointment that the extension was putting a damper on the source of her livelihood because nothing would be done if the registration was completed.

Okon said that since the start of the fiscal year, business has been dropping and people are eager to start over after recording.

She did, however, advise people to take advantage of the extension to sign up so that business can start to flourish.

Okon also advocated for more registration centers to be opened in order to get more people registered as soon as possible.

NAN reports that the federal government’s decision to get citizens to secure the NIN and link them to their SIM cards was first announced in December 2020.

A two-week period was prescribed for the exercise, but after it became clear that the time window was insufficient, the government extended it to February and then April 6. (NOPE)

(NAN)

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