#NIN: Bayelsans defy COVID-19 protocol, allegedly spend N2200 for registration

Following the new directive of the Federal Government which mandates all telecommunication subscribers in Nigeria to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their SIM cards, Bayelsans have besieged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) enrolment center in Yenagoa, allegedly spending as much as N2200 for registration.

Nigerian Tribune investigation at the registration centre revealed that enrollees are compelled to spend the said N2200 to get registered and collect their temporary NIN immediately, while those that cannot afford to pay the said sum would have to fill a personal data form and wait for two weeks to collect their NIN.

According to a security man (name withheld) at the gate, to get registered and have your temporary NIN printed out immediately, one is expected to pay N200 for a personal data form and pay as high as N2000 for what they call “processing fee.”

It was also observed that enrollees who thronged the NIMC office in their numbers have thrown caution to the wind, ignoring stipulated COVID-19 protocols, as they are seen either not wearing a facemask or failing to maintain social distancing.

Some of the enrollees who spoke to Nigerian Tribune complained that the exercise is stressful because they have to be at the NIMC office as early as 6:00 am to get registered before closing hours.

Oluwaniyi, an applicant said that those who were able to get on to the list for the day were given numbers after paying the said N2200, while those that are unable to pay would have to wait endlessly to get on the list of enrollees the office can attend to in a day.

“I just got my temporary NIN slip printed for me but before I finally got registered today, I visited this office for two days before a friend confided in me that I could get it done for me faster if I can afford to pay N2200,” he said.

When contacted, the Principal Manager of NIMC in Yenagoa, Mr Ibiba Bobmanuel, said that his office is finically handicapped and that he has been given the mandate to source for funds to run the operations of the commission.

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He said, “Since December last year, I have not been given a kobo to operate. We barely have public power to run our operation, so we are compelled to source for funds to power the place.

“However, the story that we are collecting money from those coming to register for the first time is not true. That service is totally free but we have services people have to pay for.

“The services people have to pay for include; N500 for NIN slip re-issue, N30,000 for request for written certificate/confirmation of identity, N15,000 for correction of date of birth, N1000 for re-issuance of PIN for issued card and N5000 for card re-issuance/replacement.”

However, an applicant, Mr Lawan Musa told Nigerian Tribune that NIMC officials collected N2200 from him but refunded N2000 to him because they could not render the service he requested.

He said, “I did my NIN registration in my state, Yobe. But because of Boko Haram crisis I relocated to Port Harcourt. While transporting goods I am expected to supply to someone in Yenagoa, I got the news that they would block our SIM cards.

“And because of the Boko Haram crisis, I left my properties in my community in Yobe State. So when I got to the NIMC centre in Yenagoa, a man at the gate approached me and asked what I wanted to do and I told him that wanted to register for NIN.

“He asked me to pay N2200, being N200 for personal data form and N2000 for express printing of the card. So when it eventually got to my turn, the man handling the capturing asked if I have done it before, I replied yes. 

“He then asked for my card number, I told him that I can’t recall it at the moment but gave him my name and phone number. In spite of that, he said he would not be able to resolve my issue. So I demanded that the money I paid should be refunded. After hours of protest, they refunded N2000 to me, saying the N200 for the personal data form is non-refundable.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE