LAGOS, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Nigeria has given telecommunication
providers an extra eight weeks to add valid National
Identification Numbers (NIN) to every SIM card registered in the
country, according to a statement from the Nigeria
Communications Commission.
The providers originally had two weeks, until Dec. 30, to
make the changes before the deadline was extended for a first
time. The latest deadline is April 6. Adding the numbers to the some 200 million active mobile
phone lines is a daunting task, one made more difficult by the
fact that not all Nigerians have a national identification
number.
MTN MTNJ.J has said it would take six months to become
fully compliant with the order. Nigeria launched its SIM card registration rules in an
attempt to stop insurgents and criminals from using unregistered
SIMs.