Free NIN Enrolment at 9mobile Experience Centres Begins

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The free registration for the National Identification Number (NIN) for linking to SIM cards of subscribers has commenced at select Experience Centres of 9mobile.

The decision to use its Experience Centre for enrolment of the NIN was taken by the management in order to enable customers of the company to physically register without hassles or payment.

9mobile is reputed as Nigeria’s customer-friendly telecommunications company because of the several initiatives it puts in place to make its customers happy.

When the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed network providers in the country to disconnect any subscriber who fails to link his NIN with mobile number, subscribers rushed to the various offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for registrations.

The large crowd at the agency’s offices caused many people to lambast the government, especially because it contravened the COVID-19 prevention guidelines of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

9mobile was among the companies which pushed for hassle-free registration of NIN and when it was granted permission to do it, it came up with plans to make this happen.

In a statement, the company said the centres where customers can register effortlessly and free of any charges include the 43, Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island; 31, Marina Road, Marina and 23 Road by 402 junction, Festac Town, all in Lagos. The two Abuja Experience Centres are 8, Kikuyu close, off Aminu Kano, and Plot 1774, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, both in Wuse 2.

With this development, subscribers don’t need to queue endlessly for their NIN registration or expose themselves to the risk of the ongoing pandemic.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Commercial Officer of 9mobile, Mr Stjepan Udovicic, said the telco was concerned about the large number of people clustering at NIMC centres, adding that the firm was happy to be of assistance to its esteemed subscribers and Nigerians in general.

“As Nigeria’s customer-centric telco, we understand the pressures Nigerians are going through in trying to obtain a valid NIN and link it to their SIMs and the possible exposure to COVID-19 in the process.

“So, we took this opportunity to collaborate with regulators in making the exercise easier and safer for our customers,” Mr Udovicic said.

He assured customers that the operator is always ready to go the extra mile and that the free physical registration at the designated centres will follow all COVID-19 protocols.

Mr Udovicic further disclosed that more 9mobile Experience Centres would commence NIN enrolment soonest.

Recall that 9mobile was the first to launch an Intelligent Portal for Instant Verification at the beginning of the NIN registration exercise.

The Online Self-Service NIN update portal is live on the 9mobile website. It enables subscribers to verify and update their NINs instantly.