For many Nigerians who thought they have scaled through the SIM-NIN synchronization exercise, their hopes have just been dashed.
This is because the National Identity Management Commission on Tuesday declared that Nigerians should not rely on National Identification Number generated during the Bank Verification Number registration, which is said is invalid until updated at its enrollment Center.
“NIN generated by the BVN can only be used after it has been updated at the NIMC enrollment Center. You must complete your NIN registration even if your BVN has generated a NIN,” NIMC said in a Tweet on Tuesday.
“If your NIN was generated due to BVN record harmonisation with the National Identity Database, you will not have access to the NIMC mobile APP and your NIN-SIM integration will be invalid.
“KIndly visit an enrollment centre to complete your NIN.”
NIMC compounded Nigerians’ confusion when it said those who had their NIN could access it through a shortcode: 346# , using the same phone line they used to apply for their BVN.
This means that some of the NIN generated by many people using the shortcode fall in the category above, which NIMC now says must be validated through physical visits by the owners to their agency’s office.
The NIN registration exercise has generated a lot of controversies, one of which is the current rise in Covid-19 infections among Nigerians. At all the registration centres across the country, the number of people who struggle to get registered makes it impossible for them
