The Federal Government has said the National Identity Number (NIN) registration is compulsory for foreign diplomats, who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more.
Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said this in a statement by his Technical Assistant, Dr Femi Adeluyi, on Sunday.
According to Pantami, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has set up an enrollment centre for foreign diplomats at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be functioning as from 19 January.
The statement read: “The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, has approved the setting up of a National Identity Number (NIN) enrollment centre at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The desk will be set up by Tuesday, 19th of January, 2021.
“This enrollment centre will provide support for members of the Diplomatic Corps and will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, through the National Identity Management Commission.
“The centre is being set up based on the request of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in order to simplify the process for diplomats.
“The National Identity Number 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 National Identity Management Commission Act 2007.
“The Law has made it mandatory for Nigerians and legal residents to obtain a NIN since 2007. However, compliance has been low, until recently.
“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy remains committed to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians and legal residents to obtain their Digital Identity Number.”
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has ordered telecommunications companies to deactivate telephone lines of subscribers who failed to link their phones to their National Identity Number.
It also said telcos subscribers with NIN have January 19 as the deadline to link their NIN with their SIM cards, while subscribers without NIN have until February 9 to do so.
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