The Federal Government seems to have listened to the calls from Nigerians as it has granted a further extension of the deadline for the syncing of SIM cards with the National Identity Numbers from 19 January till 9 February.

The mobile network operators yesterday confirmed the extension of the deadline in a statement saying this will allow subscribers more time to sync their SIMs with their NINs.

The news on the extension of the deadline comes as applicants both in Lagos and Abuja lamented over difficulties in participating in the exercise.

The Federal government in December 2020 gave Nigerians up till January 19 to link their SIM cards with their NIN or risk blockade of their phones. But in a review of the exercise on Tuesday, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, ISA PANTAMI said the number of Nigerians, who have collected NINs, has increased to 47.8 million.