The new deadline for the exercise is now April 6.
The joint statement added that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators, “a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021.”
The NIN exercise and deadline(s) attached to it has drawn backlash from several quarters over its timing as thousands flock to registration centres, flouting COVID-19 directives such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.
However, the federal government has blamed Nigerians for not complying with strict COVID-19 protocols put in place for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
The Federal Government has pledged to increase its support for Micro Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country to fight unemployment and aid economic growth.
This is as an additional 1.3 million jobs is expected to be created across the country with the Bank of Industry committing N1.3 billion to support the MSME sector.
This pledge was made by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, during a Capacity Building Training for MSMEs on Monday, March 22, 2021, in Abuja.
At the training which was organised by Quantum Mechanics Limited in collaboration with the ministry, Adebayo said the fund would support the growth of MSMEs and artisans, pointing out that his ministry would continue to do everything possible to see to the growth of MSMEs in the country.
NIN: COVID-19 pandemic and registration centres
On
By Inwalomhe Donald
IAM worried over the hypocritical compliance of enrollees and Nigeria Identity Management Commission, NIMC, officials with the COVID-19 protocols and the regular loss of several man-hours just to get registered. The crowd does not observe social distancing or use of masks; enrollees only use masks when NIMC officials are about to attend to them.
I am worried over lack of protective kits at the office; this is because NIMC staff could get infected with COVID-19 as they attend to hundreds of residents daily. We must put health and safety into consideration because COVID-19 is real.
NIMCMillions of Nigerians may have their sim cards disconnected when the remaining two-week ultimatum given to mobile phone users by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) elapse.
Many Nigerians could not afford any rest during the Christmas and New Year celebration for the sake of linking their phone numbers to their National Identity Number (NIN) to avoid disconnection from their network providers.
Some Nigerians, especially applicants in Alausa, Lagos office of the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), leave their houses as early as 4:00 am to pick queue numbers to be registered for their NIN when NIMC officials resume duty by 9:00 am.
Mass sim card disconnection imminent as NIMC staff begin strike guardian.ng - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from guardian.ng Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.