The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has revealed that 7 Subscriber Identification Module, (SIM) cards can be linked to one National Identification Number (NIN) on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mobile App launched recently.
This disclosure was made by the minister during an interview on a television programme, on Friday, January 8, this year.
The minister pointed out that the ministry is collaborating with NIMC to transform the NIN enrolment process and the onward linkage to SIM cards as required by the Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC).
Pantami, in his statement said, “We developed an app; when you go on-line, you will see it. That app, as long as you have your NIMC number, you 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.’’
While speaking, the minister pointed out that should the Federal Government impose a fresh lockdown due to the surge in coronavirus infections across the country, the ministry, NIMC, and telecommunication operators would review the entire NIN linkage to SIM cards by network users.
The NIMC is facing increasing pressure to meet the deadline by the ministry for the linking of NIN of all telecom subscribers with their SIM cards. This appears to be a Herculean task, as out of about 200 million subscribers with mobile network connections, only about 43 million Nigerians have their NIN.
