There has been so much hype in social media about the NIN and a new e-National Identity Card. You may have received a message that read…I have received several…smh
“On line registration for NIN Try and do it deadline is december after thst time you wont be able to renew your passports and use your bank accounts… Information about registering to get a NIN – summarized : 1. Go to the NIMC website:
nimc.gov.ng … Hopefully you know you and your parents LGA!); 2. After pre-enrollment Save the PDF of the barcoded preenrolment document; 3. Look up (on the website) the enrollment centres in your state; 4. Print a copy of the enrollment form …; 5. Go to enrollment centre with the barcoded document, proof of ID (one, but I suggest adding birth certificate or age declaration), and copy of enrollment form. 6. Enrolment … Pre enrollment takes barely 10 minutes…”
As the info gets repeated, I recall that I already have my National Identity Card, so I asked around what happens to my card, but no one seemed to know. I visited the website of National Identity Management Commission. The site is completely silent on the National Identity Card. What you see there is NIN (National Identity Number) and e-National ID Card.
Today I took the liberty of going with my National ID to their office on Aba Road (next to INEC Office & opposite NDDC Office) in Port Harcourt to get first hand information. Upon enquiry, the staff said that the National Identity card I have has since been cancelled and I should go and get the new one. Eyah!
But I was curious as to why all that effort has been wasted? Why didn’t they put a verification exercise in place that enables already existing cardholders to migrate to the new platform? While there 3 generations (those that enrolled in 2013, 2014 & 2015) of persons waiting for their e-card came to ask for their cards which were still not ready…and it got me again wondering what would be the fate of those just stating the process?
Out to satisfy my curiosity and be better informed, I went back to www.nimc.gov.ng and read…
“The NIMC Act 2007 provides for the establishment of the NIMC, its functions, powers, establishment of the National Identity Database, assignment and use of General Multi-purpose cards, and the National Identification Number (NIN). The Act also provides the Commission with powers to make regulations connected with its functions. The NIMC Act 2007 provides the repeal of the law that created the former Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR) and the transfer of its assets and liabilities to the NIMC.”
Why did they scrap the old assets and liabilities they inherited and how would we ensure that this is not another wild-goose-chase that would be scrapped later?
I believe that we can and will get our systems and institutions right again. I believe we should not be quick in discarding the old but review and refine, so past efforts are not trashed at every opportunity as such is wasteful, demoralising and uninspiring.
I believe in Nigeria because God created me Nigerian.
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