Nigeria may suspend the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) registration due to the risk of exposing the applicants to COVID-19, the Minister of State for Health Olorunnimbe Mamora has said.
Appearing on Channels TV Sunrise Daily show, Mr Mamora said the large crowds seeking to register all across the country were at high risk of COVID-19 infection, this comes right after it was announced that registration would be ongoing. READ MORE ABOUT THIS HERE>>.
”It is displeasing to see crowds gather at the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC) offices,” he said. “Nobody feels good. I don’t feel good looking at the picture where people are gathered in multitudes. It’s like super spreader events which we don’t like. I’m also aware that the relevant ministry which is the communications and digital economy is looking at this.”
What happens with the National Identification Number registration?
He hinted that the exercise may be suspended for better reorganisation. “My understanding is that the whole process may be suspended so as to reorder the whole process in terms of management of the crowd because it was never intended that it would become a rowdy process like that. So, people may have to wait and be called at intervals to go through the process,” Mr Mamora said.
READ ALSO: Nigeria begins to issue identification number to citizens in the diaspora
He advised the NIMC ”to re-order the enrollment process,” which he said will help avoid large crowds across the nation.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) ordered subscribers to link their numbers to their NINs by January 18 or face being blocked.
Nigeria has experienced a sharp increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. The country has so far recorded over 100,000 cases, many of whom have recovered. The virus has so far killed 1,300 people in the country.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE NEWS: AFRONEWS.DE