The federal government has for the ninth time extended the deadline for Nigerians to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their mobile number to March 31, 2022.

In a statement issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday. The agency said over 71 million Nigerians have enrolled for their NIN.

“As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country,” he statement reads.

According to the statement, “The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.”

The agency said the extension would enable the federal government to accelerate enrolment in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, and worship centres, adding that “the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.”

NCC stated that the setting up of registration centres in the diaspora followed “the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora.”

This will be the ninth time the deadline for NIN registration and linkage will be proposed by the federal government.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, was quoted in the statement as urging Nigerians to register and link their NIN to their SIM during this extension period, “as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification.”