Mobile operators in Nigeria has released updates on the ongoing registration and linking of National Identity Number (NIN) to Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM).
A part of the update revealed that about 143 million SIM cards are now linked and identifiable with their respective National Identity Numbers.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday, January 20 by the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, Naija News reports.
According to Adebayo, the number of subscribers without NINs as at the moment was about 21 million. The telecom operator’s representative revealed that the firms had submitted about 143 million SIMs to the NIMC.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said telecommunications companies have submitted 47.8 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) to enable subscribers to link them with their SIM cards.
In a statement signed by, Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde, on Tuesday, the NCC said this means that many millions will be linked up before the deadline on February 9.
“At an average of three to four SIMs per subscriber, this means many millions will be linked up before the deadline in February 2021,” the government had stated.
Providing further explanation on the figure released by the government, Adebayo said, “We collected 47.8 million NINs at an average of three to four SIM cards per person or enrollee.
“So, on a further average we have about 3.5 SIMs per person and when multiplied by 47.8 million, that is about 167 million. Now if we take a lower rate, say an average of three SIM cards per person, it is about 143 million SIM cards.”
He added, “Therefore what this means is that about 143 million SIM cards now have their NINs identifiable to the NIMC. This is what the numbers look like right now.”
Speaking about numbers of subscribers without NINs, Adebayo replied that the figure was around 21 million.
He said, “If we take this number (143 million SIM cards) and compare it with the 207 million subscriber records that we have, then the numbers are not looking bad.
“Because you will be looking at about 63 or 64 million SIM cards that do not have NINs. And at an average of about three SIMs per person, it then means that we have about 20 to 21 million people without NINs yet.”
He expressed hope that more citizens would be able to get their NINs, submit the identification numbers to mobile operators and have them forwarded to NIMC on or before the February 9, 2021 deadline.
