Enrollees decry extortions, queues return to NIN centres
• Lagos residents cough out between N5,000 and N10, 000. • In Enugu, some applicants part with items, run errands • NIMC threatens offenders, releases phone numbers for complaints
WITH about a month to the deadline for Nigerians to complete registration, verification and linking of the National Identity Number ( NIN) with their Subscribers Identification Modules ( SIM) cards, crowds are gradually returning to the various enrolment centres across the country.
A survey by The Guardian in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers,
Kaduna and Enugu also revealed cases of extortion as the crowd returned.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,
Dr. Isa Pantami, had on February 1, announced an eight- week extension to April 6 for the NIN- SIM registration, which was targeted at ensuring that more Nigerians get ample time to register for their NINS and link it up with their SIM cards.
According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria ( ALTON) about 60 million NINS have been submitted to NIMC for verification. As of January, Airtel declared it had collected 21
million NINS out of its 44.4 million subscriber base, leaving 23.4 million subscribers with unlinked sim cards and at the risk of disconnection.
In the audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, MTN said 37.2 million subscribers had submitted their NINS, representing 48.7 per cent of the subscriber base.
Indeed, the extension announcement actually reduced the crowds at the centres, with many subscribers having to relax.
Checks by The Guardian in the last three days, showed crowds have returned to enrolment centres, especially the telecommunications operators outlets across the country. Large numbers of Nigerians were spotted at MTN offices at Opebi, Matori, Ire Akari, Adeola Odeku, Gbagada, among others.
Subscribers were also spotted at Globacom offices at Airport Road, Bode Thomas, Ajegunle.
At Airtel office on Opebi, Ikeja, Egbeda, Ipaja, among others, crowds were also seen waiting for registration.
Enrolees were also seen at NIMC Alausa, Ikeja, hoping to be registered before the deadline. Findings showed that it is the same situation across the country, from
Abuja to Akwa Ibom to Edo to Oyo, it is same story of increasing crowds and extortion.
At some of the centres visited by The Guardian, the registration agents were only attending to subscribers, who had earlier booked for enrollment, with as many people getting two to three weeks booking.
For instance, at the Globacom Airport Road centre, yesterday, agents insisted that only those on appointment would be attended to, which, according to her, were about 15, out of hundreds of people who got to the gate as early as 5a. m. The same scenario played out at the MTN Opebi office.
It was also gathered that some NIMC agents were contracted to carry out enrolment at churches, mosques, and some special centres ( community leaders house) for people in those communities.
NIMC registration officers were seen enrolling people at Ogunronbi Estate, Idimu; a church at Kogberegbe, Isolo; a hall at Iyana Ejigbo; a Catholic church at Mafoluku, among others.
Interestingly, to get registered, subscribers cough out as much as between N5,000 and N10, 000.
At the Iyana Ejigbo centre, an agent confirmed they collected N5,000 from every enrollee. He said N3,000 was given to NIMC officials, while they keep N2000. After registering, subscribers would wait for four days to get the NIN, the authenticity of which cannot be immediately verified.
At Mafoluku, subscribers are made to pay N4,000 for registration and would wait three days to collect the NIN slip.
MEANWHILE, the NIMC has reiterated its zero tolerance for corruption, fraudulent activities, and extortion in the process of enrolment and other activities.
According to the DirectorGeneral/ CEO, Aliyu Aziz, NIMC is a responsible and responsive Commission that pursues the highest ethical standard in the discharge of its functions. ‘’ The Commission recently suspended some staff members and terminated the appointment of some, who engaged in acts of extortion and unwholesome practices detrimental to its values,” he said.
The Commission also called on the general public to desist from being enablers of extortion, as it would not condone any act capable of destroying its hard- earned integrity. “The NIMC, therefore, urges the general public to report any form of extortion and unwholesome practices through its official platforms by calling 08157691214; 09134959433; send e- mail to actu@ nimc. gov. ng; or lodge complaints via its website- www. nimc. gov. ng. “Remember, enrolment for NIN is free,” it said. I
Nabuja, enrollees told The Guardian that they were asked to part with money before they were captured, even as the Director General said he had come with supervisory checks to counter actions standing at variance with the commissions’ corporate ethical standards.