The National Identification Number is a means of identification, the National Identity Management Commission has said.
The Commission made this statement in a tweet after it came under fire for issuing British boxer and two-time unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua a NIN ahead of several Nigerians that struggled to register for it.
In what followed as a backlash on Twitter, Nigerians went for the jugular, tagging the NIMC as poor, slow and incompetent.
As its defence, the NIMC went to declare the NIN as a proper means of identification.
"The NIN slip is not a temporary card, it is also valid means of identification," it tweeted.
The NIN slip is not a temporary card ,it is also valid means of identification....
— NIMC (@nimc_ng) February 18, 2020
Nigerians were very unhappy with the response and would not stand down. They still demanded the card.
Agreed but when do we get the Identity Card. It's more solid and less fragile.
— Rimini Tagwai (@RiminiTagwai) February 18, 2020
Sadly, some people were yet to get the slips. Here was the commission's response for its ineptitude.
The Commission's main focus is populating the National Database and issuing Nigerian citizens and legal residents the National identification Number which can be verified on our verification portal once presented.
— NIMC (@nimc_ng) February 19, 2020
It was quite embarrassing
Embarrassing tweet at its peak!
— Oyindamola (@oyhinda_) February 18, 2020
Don't mind the shameless people
— Future Professor (@UnkleJeph) February 18, 2020
Telcos have consistently refused it as a means of ID to retrieve sim cards
Please, drop this narrative. 9Mobile didn't recognize it as a proper means of identification.
— DARA (@Dara_Sketche) February 19, 2020
The commission promised to look into it
I don't have the NIN slip and I don't know my tracking number.
— Blessed uzzy (@BlessedUzzy) February 19, 2020
I have my NIN number though.
How do I get the slip? I enrolled since 2018
Savages abound
Please is your A4 coloured?
— Aisuedion Pearl Joy (@Pweetypearl007) February 19, 2020
I'm asking because, the one I was given is in black and white
Obe is not taking this lightly.
Louder, please. Thank you, sir. pic.twitter.com/o5x2H85QtO
— D. (@DavidObiano) February 18, 2020
But we want the card or don't we have a right to it, and is it not supposed to be like an ATM card we can use at our convenience?
— Mayor of Gwarinpa ???? (@LeoinAbuja) February 19, 2020
We want the card cos it's easier to carry than the laminated or folded photocopy of the slip.
Give us our ID CARD.
The tweet needs to get louder
Tell the Banks and Telecoms industries
— ????WoLverInE ???? (@_Oghenefemi) February 19, 2020
U may have a point there,everything happens in this country#NoMercyEkeNoPepper#NoMercyEkeNoPepper
— Chi (@chiluvey) February 19, 2020
It can be recalled that the NIMC was established in 2007 to manage the identity of Nigerians which it has consistently failed to do so. Last month, several students preparing for JAMB almost lost their chance to register due to the commission's ineptitude.
