by Kekema Blessing
After almost two years of making National identity Number compulsory for all Nigerians and linking it with their Subscribers Identification Modules (SIM) cards, long queues are still seen at NIMC headquarters.
A survey by Ikejabird Media in Lagos showed that a large number of the queues were for complaints.
Some of the complaints were for re-arrangements of names, change of names, Change of date of birth and Verification.
Despite the fact that a lot of licensed private sector Agents are now available across the state, people still go to queue very early in the morning just to solve a complaint at the Headquarters.
Our reporter who was at Alausa Enrolment centre as early as 5am on Tuesday, 31st of January 2022 saw people already waiting at the gate.
As at 7am, the queue had increased to over 200 people, meanwhile the officials will not attend to anyone until 9am which is their official time. And quite a number of people who don’t come early enough might not be attended to because the officials will have to leave once it’s closing hour.
Some applicants in an interview lamented that they went through hell just to solve their complaints. Sometimes they are asked to return the next day after spending hours waiting and the excuse that there is no network to access the portal.
One of the people who also had issues with her NIN verification said she couldn’t successfully apply for her International passport as she keeps coming every time for verification of her National Identity Number. According to her she has be there as early as 6am about four times.
Some of the people who our reporter met as early as 5am were not attended to till about 11am due to the constant network issues that the officials complained about. This means those who came at noon were mostly not going to get attended to as tickets were only issued to those who come early.
When our reporter asked a few people why they didn’t go to the licensed agents to get things done instead of queuing up so early, they were all complaining about the hike in prices from agents.
Our reporter who also disguised as a complainer to a licensed agent was told to pay 10 thousand naira for change of name which is done at the NIMC headquarters for just 500 hundred Naira.
This has forced many Nigerians to queue up very early in the morning just to avoid paying so much to NIMC licensed agents.
“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.”
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