NIN: FG mandates diplomats registration, deadlines in force
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Federal Government on Sunday has mandated that all diplomats living in Nigeria register for the National Identification Number.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, made this known on Sunday in a statement issued by the minster’s aide, Femi Adeluyi in Abuja.
A NIN enrolment centre to be set up at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 19, 2021, was also approved by the minister.
“The NIN is mandatory for diplomats who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more.
“It is also mandatory for all other lawful residents in the country as stated in Section 16 of the NIMC Act 2007.” the statement stated.
The ministry stated that the centre was being set up based on the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in order to simplify the process for diplomats.
The centre would provide support for members of the diplomatic corps and would be managed by the communications ministry through NIMC.
Also, the deadline given for the registration of all SIM with a valid NIN are still in force.
Punch Newspaper reported that the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Ikechukwu Adinde, on Sunday said that nothing had changed and the Federal Government still insists in the deadlines given.
“The deadlines are still in force; there is no update for now” he said
The Federal Government had declared on December 15, 2020 that after December 30, 2020, all SIMs that were not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked.
This deadline was extended to Janruary 19, 2021, for subscribers with NIN and February 9, 2021, for those without the NIN.
