The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians without National Identity Number would soon be denied the opportunity of obtaining passports and driving licences.
According to the NCC spokesman, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the October 31 deadline for linking NIN-SIM remains.
“Soon, people without NIN will be denied necessary services that play vital roles in their lives including acquisition of driving licence, passport,” Adinde said.
Adinde on the benefits of the NIN-SIM integration, revealed that the exercise would significantly enhance national security.
He noted that NIN is the primary identity for Nigerians and stressed that it is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria deploys technology to improve service delivery.
Adinde added that the NIN-SIM database will enhance citizens’ access to government services.
Also, he advised Nigerians to make use of the extension of the NIN-SIM integration exercise to October 31, 2021, to enrol with NIMC, get their NINs and link them to their SIMs.
NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Efosa Idehen, said phone numbers without unique identification could be used to commit crimes that remain untraceable.
Speaking at the event, the Regional Director of NIMC in Lagos, Funmi Opesanwo said that linking NIN to a mobile network provider helped to provide a means of verifying an individual’s identity and help to safeguard identities and mobile lines.