Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, on Friday, January 8, revealed that seven SIM cards can be linked to one National Identification Number on the National Identity Management Commission Mobile App.
According to Pantami, the ministry and NIMC are working on transforming the NIN enrolment process and the onward linkage to SIM cards as required by the Nigerian Communication Commission.
“We developed an app, when you go online, you will see it. That app, as long as you have your NIMC number, you will only download it without visiting any office.
“You will be able to link up to seven SIM numbers to only one. I have already downloaded the app, launched the app; and already linked some of my numbers immediately. This is part of digitalisation,” he said.
Pantami made this disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Also Read: Fayemi reveals Govs to be administered COVID-19 vaccine on live TV
Furthermore, the minister said the ministry, NIMC and telecommunication operators; would review the entire NIN linkage to SIM cards by network users; in case, the Federal Government impose a fresh lockdown amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
1st News had reported that the FG mandated telcos subscribers with NIN to link their NINs with their SIM cards by January 19, while subscribers without NIN have until February 9 to do so.
As of October 2020, the total number of mobile network connections was 207.58 million; but currently, only 43 million Nigerians have NIN; thus 164 million telephone users are at the risk of being deactivated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, on Friday, January 8, mandated the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stop the screening and documentation of 5,000 candidates scheduled to take place between January 10 and 23, 2021 at its academy in Jos.
This mandate to stop the NDLEA screening by the FG was due to the current and alarming wave of COVID-19 pandemic across the country.
Consequently, the government directed that the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr Dayo Apata, who is also the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Justice, should seek clarification/advice from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the public health implications of such an exercise.
Apata in a statement said, “It is not in doubt that the exercise is long overdue; and necessary for the actualisation of the agency’s mandate; however, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice notes that the timing is ill-advised; and inappropriate given the current and alarming wave of COVID-19 pandemic across the country.
“Considering the above, Malami directed the Chairman of the NDLEA to stay further action on this matter; pending the receipt of clarification/advice from the Presidential Task Force.”
