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SERAP says order to register for NIN “unjustified and unnecessary”, threatens legal action
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has described the mandate for Nigerians to register for their National Identification Number and linking same to their SIM cards as “burdensome, unjustified and unnecessary.”
The group urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to order the withdrawal of the threat issued by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami, and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Abubakar, to block all SIM cards not linked with the NIN.
The group pointed out that such information was already available on several platforms like the bank verification numbers, driving licence, passport and voters’ card.
In a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said, “The request for Nigerians to register for the NIN is burdensome, unjustified and unnecessary. It will end up serving no other purpose than to threaten and violate the rights of Nigerians and create a ‘chilling effect’ on citizens’ ability to participate in the fight against corruption in the country, and thereby seriously undermining the government’s oft-repeated commitment to transparency and accountability.”
In a letter addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Pantami and Abubakar, the group stated that there is no pressing legal or practical need for the registration. It further added that blocking Nigerians from using their SIM cards is a violation of the riights to freedom of expression and access to information.
“We will be grateful if your government will indicate the measures being taken to stop the unnecessary registration of the NIN, withdraw the threat to block SIM cards, and take concrete measures to promptly ensure that the NIMC is able to faithfully discharge its statutory functions to harmonise and integrate existing identification databases in government agencies into the National Identity Database within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”
“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to implement these recommendations in the interest of millions of Nigerians.”
