The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami has warned that the government will soon take action against Nigerians yet to link their National Identification Numbers (NIN) with their SIM cards.
He stated this on Monday as part of his reactions to an allegation that the United States government placed him on a terrorism watchlist for links with the Boko Haram group.
However, Pantami as part of his reaction stated that criminals who are feeling the heat based on the government policy on NIN-SIM linkage are behind the fake news on his link with the terrorist group.
The Minister noted that he won’t be intimidated as there is no going back on the policy in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari which is targeted at improving security in Nigeria.
He wrote: “On the issue of NIN-SIM Verification to fight insecurity, there is no going back. Our priority as GOVERNMENT based on the provision of our constitution 1999 (as amended) Section 14(2)b is SECURITY, not just economy. For sure, no going back at all. Let’s the sponsors continue”.
“If you are yet to verify your SIM using NIN, do it very soon, b4 our next action. Criminals are feeling the heat,” he said.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government on Friday (2nd April) disclosed that the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended to May 6, 2021.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami in a statement noted that the request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.
Pantami who chaired the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM data linkage on Thursday in Abuja according to the statement jointly signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde of NCC and Kayode Adegoke of NIMC said the current number of monthly enrolment has increased significantly to about 2.6 million registrations.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may become weak before 2023.
According to the PGF DG, the strongest enemy of the APC at the moment is within the party itself, warning that the conduct of some party leaders may spell doom for the APC in 2023.
Specifically, he noted that the APC caretaker committee headed by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni must conclude its work quickly and hand over party structures to normal organs as contained in the constitution of the party.
Lukman handed down the warning in a statement on Monday titled ‘determining factors for 2023 contests in APC’ noting that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can only return to power if the APC implodes before 2023 due to internal fights.
He however added that if APC can manage its internal disagreements very well, then it will continue to enjoy electoral victories beyond the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari which expires in 2023.