NATIONAL: Telecoms companies get approval to register Nigerians for NINs

THE Federal Government has given telecommunications companies the approval to register Nigerians for their National Identity Numbers.

The director-general of the National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz, confirmed this on Wednesday.

Explaining why the decision was taken, Aziz said it would help to address the mammoth crowds besieging NIMC’s offices across the country on a daily basis to get their NINs.

He noted that other licensed private and public institutions should commence the registration too.

He said, “We have licensed private and public sector organisations including telcos (telecommunications companies) so as to create more centres.”

A Nigerian government directive that all telephone lines be linked to the NIN has since December 2020 caused a frenzy at the NIMC’s offices across the country as Nigerians try to beat the deadline of January 19 initially set by the government.

The government eventually extended the deadline following the appeals from various quarters.

Meanwhile, the government, through the Nigeria Communications Commission, has threatened to disconnect lines that are not enrolled by the NIMC by February 9.