The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami says using Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) or enjoying any government service without a National Identification Number (NIN) will attract a seven or 14 years jail term or fine.
The minister said this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Abuja.
A Court in Lagos had stoped the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy from blocking SIMs whose owners fail to meet up the April 6, 2021 deadline for linking SIMs to NIN.
The Ministry had through the Nigerian Communications Commission directed network operators to block all SIM cards not linked to NIN by April 9, 2021.
Pantami said: “National Identity is a law and it’s mandatory and for you to conduct certain activities without the number is an offence. For you to get a voter’s card in Nigeria based on Section 27 of the NIMC Act, it is an offence.
“For you to open a bank account without a National Identity Number is an offence. For you to pay tax is an offence. For you to collect pension it is an offence.
“For you to enjoy any government service without having a National Identity Number is an offence.
“Section 29 says if you do any of these in Sec 27 without obtaining National Identity, you have committed a crime that will lead to fine or imprisonment or both of them and this is 14 years.”
