Following the N20 service fee charges imposed by government on citizens as a requirement for checking National Identification Number (NIN) status on phones, some Nigerians have taken to social media to lament, demanding the service to be free or at least less.
The condemnation comes on the back of a directive by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) that all network operators should ensure that “all their subscribers provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records.”
According to the NCC, any SIM card without NIN by December 30 would be blocked.
Shortly after the NCC’s directive, the Nation Identity Management Commission (NIMC) announced that Nigerians could retrieve their NIN by simply dialing *346# on their phone.
The development has however stirred backlash on social media with many Nigerians accusing the federal government of exhorting the masses over the N20 charges required to check their NIN status.
“20 naira per person. You people keep ripping us off the little we have yet are so insensitive to our plight. The president who couldn’t visit a school visited his cows yet sent a delegate from Abuja to Katsina where he presently is. Who cursed us with you bloodsucking leaders,” a user wrote.
20 naira per person. You people keep ripping us off the little we have yet are so insensitive to our plight. The president who couldn't visit a school visited his cows yet sent a delegate from Abuja to Katsina where he presently is. Who cursed us with you bloodsucking leaders https://t.co/cvjyulCf3X
— L2 (@lekansquare_) December 15, 2020
“…opportunity the government just wants to milk people dry. What’s there in charging N5 for this? There are people who can’t afford that N20 naira fee and it’s a reality. Let this government make lives better for people and not frustrate us. Regards!” a user wrote.
https://twitter.com/Sir_Berkeley/status/1339162049432199168
Here’s what some Nigerians had to say:
It is my hard earned N20 so I pressed cancelled.
I go borrow SIM card use. pic.twitter.com/Xqar1JsMnS— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) December 16, 2020
They borrowed money yesterday , now we’ve to pay 20 naira each to pay back our cut 🧏🏾♂️
— 𝕂𝕦𝕤𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕟 (@kusssman) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/divergentscout/status/1339000709157675008
I'm just here thinking of how much money must have been Spent since yesterday to check the NIN through USSD. N20 might be small but times millions of usage is millions of naira Fam.
— Zulqy™ (@zulqy77) December 16, 2020
"Welcome to NIMC USSD service, this service will cost you N20"
That's what our government and it's arms are known for extortion and incompetency at every angle and level.
20 naira from millions of Nigerians for what reason? Self services like that should be FREE!
— DopeAssUnicorn🌼 (@_Hydrochloric) December 16, 2020
Just paid N20 Naira for no reason. Zero Value added.
I wonder how much they will make from us this uneconomical period and where the funds are being siphoned too
— Damilare. (@darethetrigger) December 16, 2020
Looted funds is not circulating the government again. What do they do?? Bill their clients, N20 naira each. 😂😂😂This country no go kill me
— ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@king_pulsate) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1339190353161834499
20 naira from the whole population
And some people get like five sims🤣🤣🤣
FG wan cash out for this Christmas o☹️☹️ pic.twitter.com/oNDt5vqZgQ
— Sir Linux (@TheSirlinux) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/WorldGamaliel/status/1339246613517266949
https://twitter.com/OfficialRMD_/status/1339205550203138048
Did u know nigeria govt want to loot her own citizens with NIMC sha🤫🤫
if u click dat *343# u will be charge sum of 20naira 🙃
multiply that by sum total of population in the country 🤑
20×200,000,000=4,000,000,000🥵🥵 thief
let's #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria#EndSARS pic.twitter.com/v6laTArpWH
— CitiTrapp👿 (@LawalHalilu12) December 16, 2020
Let's say 50million Nigerians have 2 sims each
To link a sim is 20Naira
N20 x 50million citizens = 1billion/1sim
That makes it 2billion if at least 50million Nigerians link both sims.Hope you see where this National ID thing is going?
Armed robbers! pic.twitter.com/l82ttzunru
— Victor Michael (@VictorrMichael) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/Milktmamii/status/1338954348009820161
The NCC announcement has put people in a panic to check if they have the NIN by dialing *346# on their phones.
It costs N20 each time you use *346# to check your NIN.There are at least 100 million cellphones with SIMs in Nigeria.
Do the maths. 20 × 100 million.Soft work. Yahoo+
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) December 16, 2020
Ol'boy this NIN vs SIM card matter should have been announced by @firsNigeria and not @NIGComCommision because its about revenue generation and not security. N20 x 180m.
— Uwa. Omoregha (@UwaOmoregha1) December 16, 2020
I also pressed Cancel.. N20 is too much na.. Just because I want to check NIN, something that suppose to be free… Nawa oooh.. https://t.co/9x88i5x86J
— Original Lastborn (@Iamolawaley) December 16, 2020
So I just randomly decided to try the *346# on NIN retrieval and discovered I have NIN. The issue, FAM, is that I never registered for NIN👀👀😳😳😱 What is going on ? @DrJoeAbah please sir, do you have any answer to this? Or is NIN now N20?
— THE TAX LAWYER (@DieuEmeka) December 16, 2020
So if I use a whopping N20 to search for sim card and NIN number and it doesn't have it, will they automatically update it or refund my money? See, N20 is a lot of money right now o and I'm not wasting it at this point. To even think I have 3lines, no way! (I don't care 😅)
— kennygee babe (@kennygee_70) December 16, 2020
The Same Govt that said #EndSARS was spreading Covid 19 wants N100M people to get NIN to Register Sims in 2weeks. We have not gotten our Nation ID 5 years after registration & when you try to get your NIN thru USSD from NIMC dey charge you N20 while you get nothing in return 🤦♂️😡
— ODOGWS 🐐 (@Daddy_Nomso) December 16, 2020
Oh boy!!! Govt Dey do Cash App 😩😫. N20 by 50m pple is clean N1bn. . Oni cici season. This NIN rubbish needs to stop Abeg.
— 'Gòkè (@iamgokeolateju) December 16, 2020