Tobias Sylvester
Nigerians have taken to their social media pages to condemn the large crowd that gathered at the offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number (NIN).
KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had threatened that SIM cards not linked to NIN by 30 December, 2020, would be blocked, and that telecom service providers that failed to block phone numbers without NIN would have their operating licences withdrawn.
It was learnt that currently, only about 41.5 million Nigerians out of an estimated 198 million active phone subscribers have NIN.
ALSO READ: How To Check National Identification Number (NIN) From Your Phone
When newsmen visited some NIMC centres across the states, it observed the presence of a large crowd and non-compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, especially social distancing.
Most of the people, who gathered at the NIMC office in Alausa, were either not wearing face masks or not observing physical distancing, thereby flouting the protocol put in place by the government in a bid to tackle the spread of COVID-19 which has been on the increase in the last one week.
Several Nigerians have been criticising the Federal Government on social media over the gathering of large crowds in NIMC’s offices. Some of them also accused NIMC officials of demanding bribe from them.
NIMC office at Alausa this morning, omo… pic.twitter.com/gouM8C3gVf
— Aremu Pokipoki (@prinzgbemi) December 21, 2020
At NIMC office this man was asked to pay #2,500 for National ID but refused. I paid #4,000 myself 😓 pic.twitter.com/RplIUtgLMS
— Danky🛳 (@CaptDanky) December 21, 2020
This is the nonsense @DrIsaPantami & his pals in @nimc_ng have decided to inflict on #Nigerians at this time. Irresponsible government…. https://t.co/pg6lTmbpoh
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) December 21, 2020
What if that was their main intention thus increasing the need for the vaccine.
— Joy Otokhine (@JOtokhine) December 21, 2020
So NIMC office is Covid 19 resistant right? I laugh in Swahili 😂. I pray and look forward to a day we get things right and properly done in my dear country Nigeria
— DJ Neptune #NoBodyIconsRemix (@deejayneptune) December 21, 2020
Dear @jidesanwoolu, when are you going to order the closure of NIMC office at Alausa for flouting the recent Covid-19 guidelines?
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) December 21, 2020
PHOTOS: Large crowds at NIMC offices in Lagos for NIN registration pic.twitter.com/PFpLasFibD
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) December 21, 2020
Closing down Some state in d name of second wave Of covid-19 .Bt allowing citizens to gather at Nimc office. Wu d fuck is advising our government.dis country is fuck up to his PEAK pic.twitter.com/VDS2jqJB28
— BUDUBANTI (@budubanti) December 21, 2020
Seal up a club but allow thousands of people gather at NIMC office just cos they want to collect NIN. We no dey ever think straight for this country.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) December 21, 2020
For several years, the government has been urging Nigerians to enroll in the NIMC because of its important, especially the National Identification Number (NIN), I enrolled in 2012, but unfortunately not many heeded the call. Just don’t know why, Nigerians love last minute thing.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) December 21, 2020
Meanwhile, SERAP has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the ‘forced’ registration of NIN, and withdraw the threat to block SIM cards.
