Lagosians pay N7000 to register for NIN

DG/CEO NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz Abubakar

Desperate to put the issue of registration for the National Identification Number (NIN) behind them, some Lagosians are coughing out as much as N7000 to ‘facilitators’ for express attention.

MSN gathered that many of the 43 designated enrolment centres in Lagos do not operate, leading to overcrowding at the centres that are working.

Lagosians who checked at the Ijaye Ojokoro centre on Friday, for instance, were directed to the Obafemi Awolowo Way State office of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), where mammoth crowds daily jostle to enrol.

Lagosians were seen patronising ‘facilitators’ who assured that the exercise would be completed in record time with a payment of N7000 each.

At the Ojokoro Millennium Estate, a group of ‘facilitators’ were sighted collecting details from residents of the estate who were eager to enrol their names on the national identity register. The service attracted a fee of N3,500.

NIMC recently licensed telecom operators and other bodies to issue Nigerians NIN. 

One of the operators, Airtel, announced it had commenced registration of Nigerians for NIN at designated locations across the country on Thursday. See the report here.

NIMC has repeatedly warned Nigerians not to pay any money to enrol for NIN or collect National ID Card. The commission maintains that its services are free and none of its staff would collect money to facilitate registration.

The involvement of the telcos in the registration by the commission is believed to be a good measure to ease the frustration of Nigerians eager to enrol their names on the National Identity register in accordance with government’s directive.

Airtel begins NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria

Airtel Nigeria, has commenced the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise in its retail outlets across the country following an approval from the Federal Government granting the operator a verification and enrolment licence to register citizens.

 

The telco says while select retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja are now fully operational to register Nigerians for NIN, work is currently ongoing to expand its NIN footprints to cover more areas and states.

 

It added that residents of Abuja can now visit Transcorp Hilton situated in Mataima or Airtel showrooms at Carpet Plaza and Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, while those in Lagos can walk into Airtel Express Point, Oyin Jolayemi, Victoria Island or Airtel showroom in Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos.

 

Lagos residents can also visit the Airtel showroom in Tejuosho, Yaba; Airtel showroom in Isheri Road, Ogba and the Airtel showroom in Oba Akran, Ikeja to register for the NIN.

 

Speaking on this new development, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, for expanding the registration footprints and taking definitive steps to smoothen the NIN registration process for Nigerians.

Guard your Glo SIM with your life!

Folks, you need to be extra careful with your Glo SIMs at this time.

Recall the Federal Government stopped the telcos from registering SIMs in December and ordered that only NIN should be used for registration. While some operators have since resumed SIM registration, Glo is yet to. 

Even if all you want to do is SIM swap of your lost or stolen SIM, you have to wait until further notice.

Routine calls to Gloworld indicate that the process is yet to resume even as of today January 14.  

If your Glo line linked to your bank gets into wrong hands you are toast because you can't swap it. Your best bet would be to rush to your bank to block your account. 

Be safe!

Forward to your family and friends to be careful.