By Adedapo Adesanya
The Plateau State Government has said it will establish National Identity Number (NIN) registration centres in the 17 local government areas of the state.
This was disclosed by Governor Simon Lalong in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Makut Macham, on Sunday, January 24.
He said the move followed the license granted the state by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to serve as a service provider for the NIN enrolment process.
“By that license, we are empowered to provide data capture and enrolment services for the issuance of the national identity number.
“We shall also create registration centres in other strategic towns in the state to ensure seamless, quick and efficient enrolment of all our citizens and residents,” he said.
Mr Lalong directed the state Ministry of Science and Technology to liaise with the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to fast-track the process.
The governor called for speedy acquisition and installation of all necessary equipment for the take-off of the centres.
“Arrangements for suitable facilities, manpower and training are to be done speedily to ensure the enrolment of eligible persons within the state.
“We urge our people to be a bit patient, we are hopeful that the registration process will become a lot less stressful soon,” he said.
The NIN service provision approval granted the state is a one-year license which is subject to renewable upon satisfactory performance.
The federal government had directed citizens to register their NINs and link them to their phone numbers before February 9, a decision that has drawn criticisms from Nigerians over its perceived wrong timing and also the health risk associated with COVID-19.
Modupe Gbadeyanka