By DESMOND AGBAMA
April 25, 2024
The National Identity Number (NIN) is a unique number assigned to an individual by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The NIMC was established under Act No.23 of 2007 and took effect on August 28, 2014, under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The NIMC has the mandate to manage the national database, register persons, assign unique NIN and issue general multipurpose cards.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) on the other hand provides the enabling environment for fair competition among operators in the Telecommunication Industry. In other words, the NCC is the body that regulates the operations of GSM providers, to ensure quality, security and efficiency in their services.
To effectively carry out that mandate the Federal Government through the NCC makes it mandatory for GSM subscribers to link their NIN with their Sim Cards. One of the reasons for this policy, perhaps, was to make it relatively easy to confirm and verify an individual’s identity while using the Sim Card or engaging in any transaction with the Sim Card.
The policy is quite laudable, but it should be seen to be working and achieving the desired objectives. However, after many years of its implementation, the security aspect of it seems to be giving the majority of Nigerians cause to worry. Everyday we hear of kidnapping and the abductors use different Sim Cards, registered or unregistered to make calls demanding for ransom. Nigerians are asking why the NCC and NIMC have not been able to provide useful information about the kidnappers in their database to the security agencies for easy apprehension of the kidnappers and their kingpins.
Again, why is it that the NCC and NIMC always fail to restrict or block the Sim Cards of kidnappers, knowing fully well that if they cannot communicate with GSM, they cannot demand for ransom, and that will automatically make their nefarious crime unattractive and difficult to execute.
It is surprising and ironic though to see how easy and quick the NCC and NIMC block the Sim Cards of law-abiding Nigerians even after linking their NIN with their Sim Card online. It usually takes 72 hours and more for it to be restored after visiting the Customer Care Centre of your service provider, whereas kidnappers are having unhindered access to communicate, despite the fact that the NCC and NIMC have the database to confirm and verify the identity of every user of the GSM.
At this point, it must be emphasized that communication is an effective tool for tackling security in any society. It is believed that the NCC and NIMC have the data and tracking devices to detect where, when and who is using the GSM to commit any crime in this country.
The NCC and NIMC should revisit their mandate and the Act establishing it to know that they are failing in their responsibilities to the nation and the people. They should join forces with the Law Enforcement Agents to combat crimes associated with the use of GSM. It is not only kidnappers that use GSM for crime. Others use it to defraud unsuspecting members of the public whose GSM is linked to their NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN).
In this era of Information Communication Technology (ICT), detection of crime should be a seamless possibility. It is on record that the Nigerian states and Federal Government have invested billions of naira in the purchase and installation of ICT equipment and facilities to assist in crime detection, prevention and arrest of criminals. Therefore, there should be perfect synergy between the NCC, NIMC and the Security Agencies to use ICT in tackling various crimes in the country.
Agbama, a social commentator, writes from Benin City
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The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, since 1968 by the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) and is owned by the Edo State Government
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