Rédaction Africa Links 24 with George Kaduna
Published on 2024-02-22 13:10:49
Nigerians have been facing a difficult time owing to the severe registration process at the headquarters of the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja. Interviews with various applicants revealed the extent of the hardship and frustration they have experienced there. Many endure hardship due to the slow pace of the process, especially at times of congestion where the situation can turn chaotic.
Isaiah Pam, a 48-year-old individual who traveled from Plateau State to fix an error with his NIN slip, found himself waiting at NIMC headquarters for two weeks without resolution. Similarly, Timothy Musa recounted his month-long ordeal with the JAMB registration process which requires the NIN. He spoke of the discouragement he faced attempting to register due to the large crowds. There was also mention of other applicants, such as Sarah Amos, who had to persistently visit the NIMC office in Abuja for one month to obtain the NIN to register for JAMB.
Security officers faced a tough challenge managing the surge of applicants, particularly with students under pressure to complete time-bound registration for various examinations. There were also numerous others in need of the NIN slips or data modification to obtain or renew a passport for urgent travels. Many applicants flock to the NIMC office for various reasons, all contributing to congestion and frustration.
Furthermore, the encoding process is acutely slow and inefficient, with frequent power outages, as well as a shortage of manpower exacerbated by applicants from various states, leading them to even come to Abuja to handle their problems. While trying other NIMC offices in Abuja, applicants found solace in only being attended to at the headquarters. Another factor contributing to congestion is the suspension of third-party services by NIMC in January. This suspension caused many applicants to seek assistance and pay touts to complete their registration process.
Amina Umar from Kebbi State is an example of someone who had to engage a vendor after her inability to modify her data. Despite NIMC’s headquarters witnessing fewer applicants, the enrolment process remains slow and inefficient. This congestion is expected at NIMC offices across the country. The need for urgent reform and improved service delivery becomes increasingly evident.
The stop to the use of agents by NIMC has contributed to the congestion, and NIMC’s plans to suspend Front-End Partners (FEPs) from participating in NIN enrolments may have also led to the current chaos. Similarly, the directive issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria that came into effect in April 2024 has caused more people to flock to NIMC offices, further adding to the problematic situation.
Nigerians now need to present the NIN for various tasks, from obtaining or renewing passports at the Nigeria Immigration Service offices, to registration for examinations and other identity validation purposes. There is also a need for many to modify their data, with the slow and inefficient process affecting them. Consequently, it’s important for NIMC to reform and improve service delivery as soon as possible to alleviate this challenge.
This continued inconvenience and hardship has driven Nigerians to seek alternatives with some having to pay others to assist them through the registration process. The frustration and varied experiences of applicants at NIMC offices point to a need for urgent reform and improved service delivery, not just in Abuja but across the country.
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