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Tag: NIMC

  • NIMC registers 60m Nigerians for NIN

    NIMC registers 60m Nigerians for NIN

    The National Identity Management Commission says 60 million Nigerians have been so far captured on the National Identity Database (NIDB).

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications of NIMC, Mr Kayode Adegoke in Abuja on Thursday.

    “This feat couldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of all stakeholders including the general public.

    “The transformational value of a robust and inclusive foundational ID system in today’s world cannot be overstated.

    “As a commission, we’re committed to keeping this momentum of scaling up and speeding up issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN) nationwide for better identification, authentication and improved service delivery,’’ he said.

    Adegoke said that NIN is the Primary Identification number for all citizens and legal residents.

    He commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy for his invaluable leadership and to all their stakeholders and partners in progress.

  • Nigerian Consulate in New York to enrol nationals for NIN

    Nigerian Consulate in New York to enrol nationals for NIN

    The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York says it is making arrangement to enrol Nigerians within its jurisdiction for the National Identification Number (NIN) in line with the directive from the Federal Government.

    The Consul-General, Amb. Lot Egopija, stated at a hybrid Town Hall meeting held at Nigeria House in New York for Nigerian nationals within the jurisdiction.

    Egopija said the Consulate had received a directive from the headquarters (Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to enrol its nationals.

    The Nigerian envoy said the Consulate would soon conclude arrangements with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

    Egopija recalled that when he assumed office few months ago, he pledged to be having regular interactive sessions with Nigerians to get their feedback and to update them with developments at the Consulate.

    He said that the Consulate had improved services in the areas of passport delivery, passport issuance and also in the processing of passport and visa documents.

    “We have been able to reduce the waiting hours and we have removed our nationals from the street. Before now, we used to have our nationals loitering around the building.

    “But we have created a holding room to accommodate our nationals and give them a new lease of life whereby they feel they belong to Nigeria House.

    “We have also improved our consular services in the area of dissemination of information through upgrading our website and making it more friendly.

    “Also, we have opened a WhatsApp platform to disseminate information to all the members of associations registered with the Consulate to ensure timely communication,’’ he said.

    Egopija said the Consulate was working with Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) to get sufficient passport booklets to meet the need of Nigerians within New York jurisdiction.

    He said that the office had improved on its mailing services and was working with a telephone company to reconfigure a direct phone line in a way that any Nigerian could call and be answered immediately.

    The Nigerian envoy explained that the Consulate would embark on cultural diplomacy aimed at promoting Nigeria’s image by organising cultural shows, saying “we need to export our culture”.

    On trade and investment, Egopija said he was in talks with the New York Chamber of Commerce and would be extending it to other Chambers of Commerce in the U.S. to boost trade relations between Nigeria and the host country.

    “Nigerians deserve the best from us and we will give Nigerians the best always,’’ he said.

    The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, said it was important to interact with the compatriots to better inform them on efforts being made to serve them better and to get feedback from them.

    “Anytime any agency deliberately sets out to improve its services, it should be commended and I’m happy to participate in this interactive session,” he said.

    Similarly, a Nigerian community leader, Mr Francis James, commended the Consul-General for his achievements in just three months in office especially the transformation he had carried out to effect positive changes.

    “When we see opportunities for change, we must work together and give who wants to truly make this change happen an opportunity to deliver.

    “I have seen tremendous improvements over the last three months much more than we have seen over the last five years. Ambassador Lot is a man of his words.

    “He realised that in order to serve better, he needed to engage with relevant stakeholders and he started by engaging some representatives of Nigerian communities led by the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians,’’ the official said.

    James also commended the Consul-General for fixing the problems of Nigerians loitering around in Nigeria House.

    “I’m not taking these achievements for granted because Egopija can stay for five years and not do anything. I’m happy to tell Nigerians we have the opportunity to turn things around.

    “We want what is happening in New York to be replicated in our other missions globally.

    “Dialogue produces better and lasting solutions than protests,’’ he said.

  • FG extends NIN-SIM verification deadline

    FG extends NIN-SIM verification deadline

    The Federal Government has extended the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to Oct. 31.

    This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Sunday in Abuja.

    They said that the decision was reached following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions in diaspora.

    According to the officials, the extension is also to address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.

    They, however, hinted that there were presently a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of three to four SIMs per NIN in the country.

    According to them, the decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicates significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

    “As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this will significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.

    “The government has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

    “The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required.

    “With the great number of enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, every citizen, legal resident and Nigerian citizens living in diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs”.

    The statement also said that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami commended the Kano State government and other states that had made NIN a key requirement for school enrolments and access to other important services.

    Pantami appreciated Nigerians for their patience and compliance with Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration.

    “The Federal Government is excited at the news that the use of NIN in the process of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam significantly reduced the challenge of exam malpractices,” Pantami said.

    The statement also quoted the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez as “urging citizens and legal residents to make sure they used the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the Oct. 31 deadline.

  • NIMC registers 56m Nigerians for NIN – D-G

    NIMC registers 56m Nigerians for NIN – D-G

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has so far registered 56 million Nigerians with their National Identity Number (NIN).

    The Director-General of NIMC, Prof Aziz Aliyu, said this on Monday at the batch 10 launching of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) projects for Digital Economy.

    The event which held virtually was in line with the Digital Economy agenda 2020 to 2030 and President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of fighting corruption, transforming the economy and ensuring security.

    The projects launched were the National Policy on Virtual Engagements in the Federal Public Institutions, ECC Akure, Ondo State and Digital Economy Centre (DEC), Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.

    Others are DEC, Delta State University, Abraka and DEC, Government Secondary School, Rigasa (Main), Kaduna State.

    “As of today NIMC has been able to register 56 million Nigerians with their NIN and that has been possible since Dr Isa Pantami took over as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in October 2020.

    “We register at least two million Nigerians monthly which is a good effort toward the digital economy agenda,’’ he said.

  • 2021 UTME: JAMB says no further extension of closing date for registration

    2021 UTME: JAMB says no further extension of closing date for registration

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will no longer extend the closing date for candidates registering for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Direct Entry (DE) applications.

    The board made this known in its Weekly bulletin, published by the office of the registrar on Monday in Abuja.

    Recall that the board had earlier extended the exercise from the initial closing date of May 15 to Saturday, May 29, to avail candidates who are unable to register within this period the opportunity to carry out a seamless exercise.

    The new closing date ended on Saturday May 29.

    According to JAMB, in spite of the two-week date extension, complaints of candidates’ inability to register persisted.

    The complaints received, the board stated, were lateness or non-delivery of National Identity Number (NIN) verification code; inability to obtain NIN; mismatch or wrong names originally submitted to National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC).

    The board said while few of such excuses have been found to be genuine, a large number were traceable to fraudsters whom it alleged, were hell bent on subverting the system.

    JAMB said, however, that it will give another opportunity to those who have genuinely tried to register but failed, due to some of the challenges mentioned.

    “Due to time constraints within the window available to JAMB on the Annual National Examinations Timetable, further extension of the registration period is not feasible.

    “Nevertheless, the board wants to avail every prospective candidate the opportunity to still participate in the 2021 registration exercise.

    “Consequently, all prospective candidates with genuine proof(s) of failed efforts to register before the closing date, should visit any of JAMB’s offices for reconciliation between Monday, May 31, and June 15.

    “This offices also include JAMB-owned Professional Test Centres across the country.

    “Candidates with genuine reasons for missing the registration are to obtain and complete a form, at no cost.

    “They are to submit, for the Reading Test and the Application, a certified Bank Draft of N4,000 only in favour of JAMB and obtain a signed duplicate copy from the office.

    “They will also submit the completed form with a recent passport photograph at the same office of collection and collect a copy of the Reading Test.

    “Candidates are to wait for further directives through the registered phone number and Public Service Announcement through the NTA Network News as soon as screening is completed.”

    JAMB said, however, that 1,383,420 candidates procured the Pin for registration as at May 29, while 1,375,694 have completed their registration.

    It reiterated that there will be no registration for 2021 UTME/DE without a properly obtained NIN which had to be verified or validated by the NIMC.

    The board added that any candidate who submits another application after having successfully registered during the earlier registration period will have the two attempts disqualified.

    “Any false claim will attract severe sanctions, including forfeiture of the deposited Bank Draft, cancellation of application(s) and prosecution.

    “Due to the fact that some parents and school proprietors have been found to mislead candidates for illicit gains and personal aggrandizement, the board advises all to allow each candidate to personally go through the process.

    “JAMB does not tolerate the involvement of any third party or group in the registration process,” it warned.

  • Pantami promises NIMC staff improved salary

    Pantami promises NIMC staff improved salary

    Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has assured staff of the National Identify Management Commission (NIMC) of improved salary scale.

    Pantami disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, when the board and management of NIMC paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

    “We are working on the new salary scale approved by the Salaries and Wages Commission, as we make efforts to ensure an improved budget for 2021.

    “I have furnished President Muhammadu Buhari with all the challenges face by NIMC because the President said we must get NIN right as we cannot continue to estimate our population and for national planning.

    “We will make sure the agency delivers on its mandate. We need to do more for NIMC,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Bello Gwandu, Acting Chairman, NIMC Governing Board, who led the team, thanked the minister for his innovations and also informed him of the challenges faced by the commission.

    Gwandu, however, said that the actualisation and implementation of an enhanced salary structure for staff of the commission should commensurate with government agencies in the same Information Technology sector.

    He also said that provision and release of funds would address the huge infrastructural requirements of the commission.

    The acting chairman noted that the commission had been grabbling with these challenges, which in spite of the concerted efforts to address these issues had not made a headway.

    “We are here to convey to you our unreserved appreciation of what you have been doing since the transfer of the supervision of the activities of NIMC to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

    “The welfare of staff of the commission has been brought to the front-burner and attention of the Federal Government owing to your relentless drive to see a paradigm shift to their general working conditions.

    “It shows you have the interest of our NIMC workforce at heart, and you understand and appreciate the magnitude of the commission’s mandate to the Nigerian people.

    “We do this because of our firm belief in you as a technocrat with a very good grasp of the importance of digital identification in our country,” he said.

    Gwandu further said that the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage was yet another project that spoke volumes of the acting chairman’s unflinching resolve to sanitise and harmonise the silos of databases in the country.

    “Let me say again for the purpose of emphasis, that as a commission, we never exuded such overwhelming relevance and have not been this connected to the Nigerian people like we have since you took over as our supervisory minister,” he added.

  • FG approves establishment of SIM swap centres in 744 LGAs

    FG approves establishment of SIM swap centres in 744 LGAs

    The Federal Government has approved the establishment of dedicated Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Swap Centres across the 744 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    This decision was reached at the 4th review meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM registration in Abuja, presided over by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.

    Pantami tasked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which was working with NIMC and mobile network operators (MNOs), to urgently come up with a framework for the establishment of the Centres in the 774 LGAs of the country.

    The Minister said that the framework for the establishment must begin with critical and feasible locations.

    The statement was jointly signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identify Management Commission (NIMC).

    The meeting held on Friday also approved the extension of tenure for National Identity Number (NIN) registration by MNOs.

    The statement added that the government also extended the enrolment licence tenure of NIN Enrolment Agent Licensees for MNOs from 1 to 5 years in consideration of their satisfactory performance, subject to continuous monitoring.

    “The Technical Committee was mandated to complete the development of a new SIM issuance strategy that cannot be compromised.

    “This will ensure that there is no repeat of the past process that was compromised through pre-registration by some agents,’’ it said.

    According to him, approval has been given to MNOs for the establishment of dedicated SIM Swap Centres across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria;

    “A Multi-Sectoral Ad hoc committee was tasked to immediately complete the review of the processes for new SIM activations for legal residents staying in Nigeria for less than 24 months.

    “The membership of the Committee was drawn from NCC, NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).”

    He said MNOs that had Service Centres in important locations in LGAs were expected to upgrade these centres to a level where they could qualify as SIM Swap Centres in order to reduce the challenges associated with the SIM swap process for citizens.

    Adinde explained that the purpose was to bring SIM Swap Centres closer to Nigerians regardless of their location.

    The Minister expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the government’s directive on the exercise.

    He informed that President Muhammadu Buhari was briefed on the activities of the Ministerial Task Force.

    He said that President Buhari commended the achievement recorded so far and urged the Minister and other stakeholders to maintain the tempo.

    The Minister also appreciated Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise, which had many benefits to the country and its citizens.

    He pledged government’s commitment to continually take decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.

    The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, briefed the meeting on the outcome of the Senate Investigative Hearing on 5G Deployment in Nigeria.

    Danbatta extolled the minister for making an eloquent presentation to dispel fears about the public health and security implications of 5G, as well as making a case for this new technology in the country.

    “All stakeholders agreed on the need for the country to deploy 5G technology,” he said.

    They included the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); DG/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); and DG/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    The membership of the Committee was drawn from NCC, NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

    Others members were the NCC Executive Commissioners for Technical Services and Stakeholder Management; MDs/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, EMTS (9Mobile), NTEL, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Glo.

  • Why we extended deadline for NIN-SIM linkage again – Pantami

    Why we extended deadline for NIN-SIM linkage again – Pantami

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami has said the federal government again extended the deadline for NIN-SIM linkage to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with the SIM.

    Pantami made this known in a statement jointly signed and released by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

    The statement followed a the 2nd high-level meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration which was held on Monday.

    Following the meeting, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the ongoing NIN and SIM integration exercise was extended by 8 weeks, with a new deadline pegged for April 6, 2021.

    “It was reported that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by mobile network operators.

    “Each NIN is usually tied to an average of 3 to 4 SIMS and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.

    “This number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021.

    “Furthermore, over 1060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, while Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.

    “This is in line with the policy of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to enhance security and make the process of obtaining NINS easier for Nigerians,” the statement reads.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Pantami reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enroll for their NIN and link with their SIMS.

  • BREAKING: FG again extends deadline for NIN-SIM linkage

    BREAKING: FG again extends deadline for NIN-SIM linkage

    The federal government has again extended the deadline for the ongoing exercise of linking national identification number (NIN) to SIM cards.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the deadline extension followed a virtual meeting of the ministerial task force on NIN-SIM linkage.

    The meeting, the 2nd high-level meeting of the ministerial task force, was held on Monday, and it was presided over by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami.

    TNG had earlier exclusively reported the FG will extend the deadline for the registration for NIN and the linkage to SIM cards.

    The high-level meeting reviewed the progress report of the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage exercise, following which, the deadline for linkage was extended to 6th of April 2021.

    All members of the taskforce were present at the meeting, and they included the CEOs of NIMC, NCC, and NITDA, CEOs of all mobile network operators in Nigeria, Chairman of ALTON, CEOs of Spectranet, Smile, and deputy MD, Intercellular.

    Recall that the FG had on December 15, 2020 declared that all SIM cards that were not registered with valid NIN on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked after December 30, 2020.

    However, following public outcry against the short notice, the FG later extended the deadline, giving 3 weeks’ extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020, to January 19, 2021, and a 6-week extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020, to February 9, 2021.

    Meanwhile, the FG did not carry out its threat of blocking SIM cards of subscribers with NIN on January 19. The FG unified the deadline, postponing the deadline to February 9 altogether.

    The new deadline for linking NIN to SIM cards is now April 6, 2021.

  • EXCLUSIVE: FG to extend deadline for NIN linkage to SIM cards

    EXCLUSIVE: FG to extend deadline for NIN linkage to SIM cards

    The federal government may extend the deadline for the linkage of National Identification Number (NIN) to SIM cards, a source close to the matter has said.

    The meeting to extend the deadline is ongoing, according to a government official in the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami is presently presiding over the ministerial task force meeting on the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

    TNG reports the meeting, holding virtually, is the 2nd high-level meeting of the ministerial task force on the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

    The high-level meeting is reviewing the progress report of the ongoing linkage exercise, following which, the deadline for linkage would be extended.

    All members of the taskforce are present at the meeting. They include CEOs of NIMC, NCC, and NITDA, CEOs of all mobile network operators in Nigeria, Chairman of ALTON, CEOs of Spectranet, Smile, and deputy MD, Intercellular.

    Recall that the FG had on December 15, 2020 declared that all SIM cards that were not registered with valid NIN on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked after December 30, 2020.

    However, following public outcry against the short notice, the FG later extended the deadline, giving 3 weeks’ extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020, to January 19, 2021, and a 6-week extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020, to February 9, 2021.

    Meanwhile, the FG did not carry out its threat of blocking SIM cards of subscribers with NIN on January 19. The FG unified the deadline, postponing the deadline to February 9 altogether.

    Details of the extension of the deadline would be communicated later, the source told TNG.