Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured telephone subscribers in the country of its plan, to review the February 9, 2021 deadline for the ongoing linkage of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) with National Identity Numbers (NIN).
Edu-Biznews observed that several Nigerians were disappointed on Thursday at the various offices of the National Identify Management Commission, as workers Shutdown indefinitely acting on directive of its chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria .
Minister of Communication and Digital Economy , Dr. Isa Pantanmi however re-assured Nigerians of possible extension, stressing the need for the Federal Government's continous review of the SIMs registration exercise, to ensure its smooth implementation.
The minister revealed that about 172 SIMs million were already linked to their National Identity Numbers by 43 million Nigerians with NINs.
Pantanmi in a statement on Thursday by the ministry's Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, also allayed fears of mass deactivation of SIMs by service providers, saying nothing of such would be done.
His words"The attention of the NCC has been drawn to numerous publications in both print and electronic media regarding the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM Registration Records with NIN. Most of these publications are based on the erroneous assumption that for every network or SIM connection, there is one unique human subscriber".
He added that,“with the advent of social media and app-driven digital environment, network subscription went beyond human subscribers to include machines like PoS, routers, Wi-Fi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices and others.”
According to him,“It is very important to emphasise that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIM(s) is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far reaching benefits.
The minister explained that the excercise aside for protection of Nigerians, would also be used for proper planning by government.
“Apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like national budgeting, policy planning, social intervention programmes and many more".
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