The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has deployed more gadgets to states across the country to facilitate more enrolments for the National Identity Numbers (NIN).

The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Odusote-Coker, approved the distribution of additional enrolment systems to all the states as more applicants besieged state offices nationwide and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Odusote-Coker said the intervention was necessary to ease NIN enrolment challenges and increase operational capacity.

The Nation gathered that more applicants have been going through harrowing experiences to obtain the NIN following deadlines issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the linkage of NIN with Subscribers Identity Modules (SIM) cards.

The Commission had warned that Subscribers who failed to link their NIN with SIM would have their lines disconnected by March 2024.

The development has put pressure on NIMC and its workers on the registration of applicants in the national identity database.

A statement signed by NIMC Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, noted that the provision of additional enrolment devices underscored the commitment of the DG/CEO of the Agency to streamline operations and enhance overall effectiveness.

Adegoke said: “The systems (gadgets) have since been installed and in use across all the states and have not only resulted in the reduction of time spent by applicants but has also increased the number of applicants attended to daily.

“Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote has also sent out monitoring and evaluation teams across various centres nationwide to ensure a smooth running of enrolment and modification exercises.

“The team will also ensure strict compliance with her zero-tolerance stance against all forms of extortion and unethical practices.

“Engr Coker-Odusote has emphasized that her administration will not condone extortion of applicants and has since directed that any staff found wanting will be dealt with in line with the provisions of the constitution and extant Public Service Rules.

“She requests that any applicant extorted should report such incident to the following official channels: phone line 08155015388; 07002255646; email – ieu@nimc.gov.ng.”

Source: The Nation