Residents in Warri and environs enrolling for the National Identification Number (NIN) have appealed to the Federal Government to decentralise the ongoing registration process in the country.
They spoke on Thursday in Warri, saying the decentralisation would ease the process which they described as “cumbersome’’.
The applicants expressed displeasure over the nationwide shutdown of registration by the management of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The NIMC unit of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike over the risk of exposure to Covid-19 among others.
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Abdulmojeed Sodimu, one of the applicants, said he arrived at the venue of the registration in Warri South at about 5 a.m. on Thursday and was number 100 on the list.
“I have been here since 5:00 a.m. and I was number 100 on the list. I could not wait till 8:00 a.m. when the staff would resume.
“When I returned to the venue, I was told that they are on strike. I want to appeal to the government to decentralise the process. It should be done in every Ward to make it easier.
“They should employ Adhoc staff if they lack the manpower to ease the work, the suffering is just too much for us,” Sodimu said.
Simeon Opukeme, another applicant, said the process should be extended to the communities to ease the cost of transportation.
“I came from Batan Flow station in Warri South-west local government area of Delta.
“It cost N3,000 to come and N3500 to return to my community in the creek by boat. The other time I came here, we were more than 500 persons waiting to get registered.
“They should do it in each local government area and visit communities. That will be the best because many people in my community cannot come here because of the cost of transportation,’’ he said.
Babalake Omolomo, another applicant, who expressed disappointment at the development, said he trekked for more than three kilometres to the venue.
