Forces Against NIN Policy Behind Attacks Against Me - Isa Pantami Says

 

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has alleged forces against the Federal Government’s compulsory policy on National Identification Number (NIN) registration for all Nigerians and those residing in the country are behind recent attacks against him. Pantami in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES dismissed all the allegations against him, describing them as ‘untrue’.

He further denied links to extremist views, saying criminals and other ‘entrenched interests’ are behind the attacks on him.

He said: “I have no doubt about this. It has to do with the National Identification Number. Do you know one thing? This policy was started in 2011, it was not successful. Why? It was fought

“…In 2015, it got here up, it became no longer a success. In 2018 there has been a time that there were meetings among government and cellular community operators.

“And it was absolutely announced that with the aid of the settlement with authorities, the deadline turned into January 2018. It is there on-line, I will proportion it with you if you like. By January 2018, it turned into not implemented because there are forces towards it. There are forces!”

Pantami explained NIN registration is not best intended for Nigerians however it could be obtained through all and sundry in Nigeria.

He stated: “Now they have got began coming with the news that humans are coming from neighbouring countries to check in.

“What they fail to understand is that the National Identification Number is not most effective for Nigerians; every person in Nigeria can gain it.

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“Section 16 and 17 of the Act point out the registrable human beings within the country – citizens, prison citizens, prison permanent residents, and legal citizens for at the least  years. So, it is not most effective for residents. And it is also crucial to realize that this isn't just an illustration that they are residents of Nigeria.

“It is alternatively an illustration that you supplied your biometric facts, so the government has manage over your information.

“And that facts of NIMC (National Identity Management Commission), nobody has get right of entry to to it in any way he likes. Getting get entry to to it illegally is 10 years in prison. It is there within the regulation. But human beings will want to discredit it, because they don’t like it.”

The Minister delivered: “As lengthy as it is applied by way of the authorities, it's going to go a protracted manner in decreasing crime and primarily based on the facts we have been seeing now, it’s sincerely encouraging.

“As government, our priority is the protection of the lives and property of our residents. Security is our priority as a government – whether or not in agric, virtual economy, schooling or in fitness, in some thing.

“President Muhammadu Buahari is so enthusiastic about safety, and he directed me to try this because he knows I attempt to persevere despite demanding situations and do what is proper in the hobby of our citizens and humanity.”

“You recognise as a central authority appointee, and at this stage, if you say you are going to be intimidated with the aid of the whole thing, then you can not do the paintings. You can't do the paintings.

” I was with the Minister of Foreign Affairs this week, on April 12. I changed into with the Minister. I became with the ambassadors of the U.K., the U.S., South Korea, and lots of other nations.

“Even this issue that we are talking about, primarily based on our findings, preliminary research, many people are not glad with what we have been doing – linking National Identification Number with SIM. Because a situation will come that each one the people the usage of SIM to commit crime will now not be able to do that.

“If they try this, the authorities can be capable of intercept them without difficulty. This is what they don’t want to show up. And that is a mandate given to me by way of President Muhammadu Buhari. He in my opinion signed the letter that ‘you're mandated to do this’.

“As his appointee, I should either do it or say I can't. So, in view that I am willing to serve my united states of america, I ought to retain to do it to the excellent of my ability.

“So, in my assembly with them, they even endorsed me to push it and make it very successful.”