The federal government has pronounced January 1, 2019 as deadline for registration and obtaining of the National Identification Number, NIN, by all citizens.

Gabriel Ekwenze, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Anambra Central Senatorial Zone Coordinator, announced this during Community stakeholder’s sensitisation programme facilitated by National Orientation Agency, NOA, at Ojoto.

Ekwenze said it was important for every citizen to obtain the NIN so as not to be deprived of opportunities to enjoy some privileges in future.

“Without the NIN, nobody will be allowed admission into Higher Institutions, Scholarships, grants, contracts as well as in bailing of persons from Police or the courts.

“It will, then, be difficult for some Nigerians to privileges, otherwise due to them without NIN.’’

He said the former Plastic National Identity Cards obtained between 2003 and 2006 would no longer be tenable, saying that those who registered from 2014 should jealously guard their slips.

“The former National Identity cards will soon be obsolete, because it lacks some features captured in the current one.

“The FG wants to ensure that people don’t answer different names when they change location. Moreover, your eye print is captured in the current exercise,’’ Ekwenze said.

He stressed that the NIN slip to be obtained would be a permanent personal ID number, which one could utilise for life within and outside the country.

He said that the Electronic Identification Card, EID, which people were expecting would be less permanent than the slip because it would be renewable every five years.

He added: “the new registration started in 2013/2014 with only16 years and above registering. Infants and people of all ages are now permitted to register henceforth’’.

Ekwenze noted, “NIN registration is free, even though oftentimes there is no electricity supply at some LGA headquarters to aid the services.’’

He also called on Traditional Rulers, Community Town Unions and philanthropists to arrange for how to invite NIMC to their towns to make the registration more convenient for indigenes.

Vivian Okoye, the immigration officer for Idemili South LGA, explained that NIN was one of the fundamental requirements for processing International Passports.

Monica Azodo, the Idemili South LGA, NOA community mobilisation officer, enjoined all community stakeholders to help to disseminate the good news in the hinterlands before the deadline, so as to avoid rush.

– Oct. 11, 2018 @ 14:39 GMT |