By Abdulrahman Abdullahi
Nigerians are eager to get their National Identity Number (NIN), after the Federal Government announcement on deregistering SIM card network users if NIN is not linked. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has introduced booking system for enrolment as NIMC centres are beseige by applicants.
It is part of the new guidelines introduced by the commission, which the spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, made known in a statement.
It is part of the new guidelines introduced by the commission, which the spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, made known in a statement.
The statement reads: “Mindful of the second wave of the COVID-19 which continues to severely affect public health and cause unprecedented disruptions, the commission wishes to announce that it has adopted a couple of measures to contain the spread of the virus whilst ensuring its services to Nigerians are not entirely interrupted.
“Effective December 30, 2020, attending to applicants would be based on booking system. For bookings, applicants are to visit any of the NIMC offices closest to them during stipulated business hours (9am – 1pm).
“Once admitted into the office, a number-issuing queue management system will be in place to ensure orderliness and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.”
The commission also urged all applicants to use their facemasks, observe social distancing and wash their hands while at its centres nationwide.
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ordered telecommunications companies to deactivate telephone lines of subscribers who failed to link their phones to their NIN.
Meanwhile, crowds have continued to besiege the offices of NIMC to get enrolled. Nigerians, in their hundreds, were seen at both NIMC offices in Abuja and Lagos in their quest to beat the deadline.
There was practical disregard for COVID-19 protocols as many people neither observed the required social distancing nor put on facemasks, at a time the virus is fast regaining influence across the country.
