Come And See Trouble Trying To Obtain NIN At Alimosho

Story and Pictures BY ERUKUBAMI ODUNWOLE TOBI

Despite a six-week extension for people yet to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN),  come and see the trouble it had become getting attention at the Ikotun enrolment centre in Alimoso Lagos.

Our correspondent who went to the centre for first-hand assessment today came out with unpleasant experiences, which though may not be peculiar with Ikotun.

By about 7am when he got there, there was already a long queue of distraught people waiting in the neigbourhood

And by the time the gate to the premises was thrown open for business, the surge was too much to bear.

Our investigations showed that some people actually got there as early as 3am.

From the outer compound down to inside the centre were desperate Lagosians seeking to register for the NIN.

The had formed groups all in attempt to be attended to for all-important NIN.

One of the people, Mr Abubaka Ibrahim told The Eagle that he was resident in Igando, and that by the time he and his sister got to the premises at about 5am, they were given tag numbers 123 and 124.

According to him, there was no certainty that they would be attended to for the day.

Come and see trouble 2

He pleaded on government to find a way of making it easy for people to obtain the NIN.

According to him, the government could mobilise members of the National Youth Service Corps as adhoc staff to help speed up the process.

That, he said would also help to stop the fighting going on amongst the people in their desperation to get registered.

Also sharing his experience, Mr Kingsley Ekoze said he was at the centre four times, last year, and twice this year already, but was yet to get the number.

Ekoze who said he resided in Surulere, told our correspondent that getting to the centre early meant leaving his home in Surulere as early as 5am.

He said it was painful to undergo such a stress only to be given a far number at the centre.

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Aside the frustration, he reminded of the health implication given the presence of COVID-19, urging the government to do something and make the process easy for Nigerians.