In a candid response to a Twitter user, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, revealed his frustration with the lack of effective utilization of the NIN-SIM policy, attributing it to the rise in criminal activities, particularly kidnapping, in the country.
Mentus, a Twitter user, questioned why Nigerians endured long queues for months to obtain the National Identification Number (NIN), only to witness its apparent futility in combating crimes. Pantami, known for his supervision of the NIN-SIM policy during his ministerial tenure, responded by emphasizing that the issue lies not with the policy itself but with the failure of relevant institutions to harness its potential.
In a series of tweets, Pantami recounted a personal encounter where a friend raised N50 million as part of a ransom for the release of six sisters abducted in Abuja. Tragically, one of the sisters was killed after the father allegedly failed to meet the deadline for the payment of a N60 million ransom.
Pantami defended the efficacy of the NIN-SIM policy, citing three instances during his tenure where it was successfully utilized for operational success. He expressed frustration with the lack of utilization by institutions responsible for public safety, blaming their negligence for the policy's perceived ineffectiveness.
While acknowledging that his life was threatened for reintroducing the policy, Pantami stressed the broader benefits of NIN-SIM beyond tracking criminals. The policy, intended to link individual records in a database for identity verification, also aimed to enhance security and socio-economic planning.
Despite the policy's implementation, questions linger about its impact on aiding investigations and addressing the escalating security threats, especially the surge in kidnapping cases in Abuja. Nigerians express skepticism about the essence of the policy as security challenges worsen, with the nation's capital recording multiple kidnapping incidents in the first week of 2024.
As security concerns heighten, Pantami's revelations bring attention to the urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation of the NIN-SIM policy's implementation and its role in addressing the rising wave of criminal activities in the country
