The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said the Federal Government had started arrangements to replace the Bank Verification Number (BVN) with the National Identity Number (NIN).
Pantami said he had informed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, about replacing BVN with NIN.
He added that the BVN is a bank policy while NIN is a law, noting that the BVN is only applicable to those with bank accounts, but NIN is for every citizen and legal residents in the country.
Pantami described the BVN as Nigeria’s secondary database while NIN and the database is the primary one in the country.
According to him, the National Identification Management Commission, NIMC Act 2007 provides that all citizens must be enrolled.
Bank Verification Number
Speaking shortly after a tour of telecoms operators and NIN licensees in the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari was happy with the NIN enrolment exercise so far.
Everyevery.ng gathered that Pantami visited the NIMC registration Centre in Gwarinpa, the Zonal Headquarters of MTN, Glo Mobile and Airtel in Maitama to witness the ongoing enrolment exercise.
You will recall that the Minister had announced the extension of the ongoing NIN registration deadline by eight (8) weeks.
Pantami said the Nigerian government had shifted the deadline for NIN registration to April 6 to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to link their NIN with SIM.
Meanwhile, Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde said the process is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s policy to enhance security (read more here).
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Foolish set of Politicians