FG orders abolition of NIN retrieval charge across all Networks
Ali Patani,Nigeria's Minister of Communication and Digital Economy
By Our Editor
Following the outcry by Nigerians over the recent pronouncement by the federal government directive that all National Identification Numbers be integrated with Subscriber Identification Modules for security purposes..
The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to remove the N20 USSD fee imposed on subscribers for NIN retrieval requests.
The Directive at the instance of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is with immediate effect and an intervention at making the process easier and affordable. In a letter conveying the implementation of the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman NCC and the Director-General of NIMC informed the Minister that the relevant authorities had met with, and negotiated a waiver with the Mobile Network Operators in that regard.
By the waiver, all Nigerian subscribers and applicants can access the service using the *346# code for their NIN retrieval at no charge for the duration of the NIN/SIM Card integration exercise.
Recall that the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) earlier the week issued a directive to all mobile network operators to deactivate all SIM cards that will not be duly registered with valid national identity card in 14 days
