IF YOU DON'T HAVE NIN, READ THIS FRESH RELEASE FROM THE FG ON HOW TO REGISTER WITHOUT STRESS.

Federal Government has finally licensed telecommunication companies to register Nigerians who do not have the National Identification Number. This is to make the process easier for Nigerians and reduce the large gatherings at the offices of the National Identity Management Commission across the country. The Punch reported.

Director-General to the NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, said many other public and private organizations have been licensed to register for the NIN.

The National Identity Management Commission said mobile telecommunications companies can now register Nigerians for the National Identification Number. This will address the crowds at the enrollment centers across the country and reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the process of registering for the NIN.

On the 15th of December 2020, the Federal Ministry of Communication led by Isa Pantami directed telecommunication companies to block the lines of Nigerians who didn't link their NIN to their phone numbers. The process has been cumbersome for Nigerians since then, people gathered in thousands at different enrollment centers across the country amid the second wave of COVID-19.

The Federal Government is also contemplating the extension of the February 9 deadline earlier announced because many are yet to register.

HERDSMEN STORM EKITI FOREST RESERVE, DESTROY MULTI-MILLION NAIRA MAIZE FARM

A multi-million naira maize farm belonging to members of the Maize Growers Processing Marketer Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) have been destroyed by herdsmen in Ekiti State.

The farm covering about 235 hectares of land is at the state forest reserve in Aduloju farmstead located along Ado-Ijan road in Ado Local Government Area of the state.

MAGPAMAN CORN FARM

Speaking with newsmen, on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the state secretary of the association, Mr Tope Emmanuel, said the herders had been terrorising the farmers in the last one week leading to the destruction of the maize farm.

Emmanuel explained that the pastorals stormed the farm at night with dangerous weapons to feed their cows and, “all efforts to stop them have been rebuffed.”

He disclosed that members obtained about N6.6 million loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) under the anchor borrowers’ programme in September 2020 to plant the maize, adding that the 160 members had been left with nothing to cultivate from the expected proceed worth N10 million.

According to him, “Last year, we approached the CBN as a group to obtain loan worth N6.6 million for the maize farm and we planted the maize covering 235 hectares of land the farm.

“But unfortunately when we were preparing for cultivation, the herdsmen came and destroyed everything on the farm with nothing for us again. Those herders always go there during the night with dangerous weapons in the last few days and nobody can challenge them because of the arms they are holding. We can’t go to the farm now.”

Emmanuel pleaded with the state government and other stakeholders to come to their rescue in saving them from the hands of the deadly herdsmen and helped in recouping their investment.

“Don’t forget that government always say we should go to the farm and we approach the bank for loan hoping to pay back after cultivation but nothing to cultivate now as these herders have destroyed everything in the farm.

“We are begging the state government to save us as members are really in a difficult situation now in view of the loan and you can predict what might follow if nothing is done,” he said.

He said the police and the State Security Network Agency code-named Amotekun had been briefed on the incident but expressed regret that nothing was forthcoming from the security agents.

When contacted, the Ekiti Amotekun corps commander, Brig-Gen Joe Komolafe (retd), confirmed the incident, adding that, “we are handling the situation.”

STEPS TO GET YOUR NIN

You cannot fully claim to be a citizen of a country if you don’t have a means of identification. There are several means of identification for Nigerians like the international passport, voter’s card, or driver’s license. Still, the most recognized and widely accepted means of identification is the National Identity Card which carries a unique number.

Your national identification number is required for almost anything you do in Nigeria these days, including opening a bank account and get a sim card. Getting your national identification number is free and would not take you a lot of time if you follow the right steps. There are three types of enrolment processes:

 

1. SELF SERVICE:

In this case, you walk into an enrollment centre and apply by yourself. All you have to do is feel an enrollment form, submit it to the officer available and do your biometrics, after which your NIN would be given to you.

2. ASSISTED SERVICE:

 

For the assisted service, you walk in and get assistance from a support officer who helps you fill your form correctly and make sure your application is submitted. This service is mostly for people that can neither read nor write. It makes the process easier for them and helps to avoid time wastage.

3. MOBILE SERVICE:

You also have the option of walking into a mobile enrollment centre in your neighbourhood, and either do a self or assisted service. Check online for the mobile enrollment centres close to you.

To get your unique national identification number, there are some steps you have to take. They include:

Step 1: Walk into the nearest NIMC enrolment centre with the required documents (any means of identification and your BVN if you have one). Make sure you have not enrolled before, if you have, go along with your old national identification number.

Step 2: Get and fill the enrollment form providing all the required information

 

Step 3: Submit the filled form to the enrollment officer, who then inputs your details into the online enrollment application.

Step 4: Verify and confirm the enrolment data on the system to avoid mistakes.

Step 5: Capture your headshot photo, fingerprints and signature

Step 6: Give the enrolment officer your supporting documents to scan

Step 7: Your enrolment is acknowledged, and two slips are generated for you. The first slip should be a transaction slip and the second slip should be a NIN slip indicating completion of enrolment.

The federal government recently made it mandatory for all Nigerians to link their NIN with their sim, so it is essential for you to get your NIN if you don’t have one. Getting your NIN should not be difficult if you have the required documents and follow the steps stated above.

LAGOS RAISES ALARM AS MANY CIVIL SERVANTS TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONA VIRUS

   Gov Sanwolu 

The Lagos State Government has raised the alarm over increasing rate at which civil servants test positive for COVID-19.

Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, in a statement said the government was concerned at the increasing rate of COVID-19 positivity among civil servants.

The memo addressed to all Accounting Officers, said they should come up with duty rosters to stem the outbreak of COVID-19 in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

He said the roster should be prepared with an officer having to report for duty at most twice a month.

The memo reads: “I wish to note with deep concern the spate at which Officers are testing positive to COVID 19 and hereby enjoins all Accounting Officers to come up with Duty Rosters to stem the outbreak in your respective MDAs.

“The roster should be prepared with an Officer having to report for duty at most (one week) twice a month.

“Please note that this directive is without prejudice to existing directives and only reinforces same which are in effect and compliance abysmal. Be Responsible. Be Responsive. Be Safe.”

POPULAR NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS VICTORIA INYAMA CONTRACTS COVID-19

Popular Nollywood actress, Victoria Inyama, has taken to her verified Instagram account to announce that she has tested positive for covid-19 and she is currently hospitalized.

According to the actress who resides in the UK she noted that her kids are in the clear, “Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude. Thank you @borisjohnsonuk and @mayorofldn for the lockdown. l couldn't have been more careful with the kids going to school etc. I would rather go through this than my children. 

What a Christmas and New Year. What a 2021! Covid is a terrible, terrible virus. l can't even explain. So exhausting. Three weeks and still counting. Thanks to @ldn_ambulance Kent zone...@darent_valley_hospital @tiko4guvnor @drtonero @wonuola.akintola. This too shall pass,” she wrote.

Other Nigerian celebrities like Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye, Jude Okoye, Ali Baba, among others have contracted the virus this year.

HOUSE ON THE ROCK PASTOR DIES OF COVID-19

A Pastor with the House on the Rock, Adeyinka Akinbami, has died of COVID-19 at the age of 61.

Announcing his passing on Saturday, Senior Pastor, HOTR, Paul Adefarasin, said he had yet to come to terms with Akinbami’s death.

He said the incident was a reminder of how deadly COVID-19 was and called on Nigerians to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

Adefarasin tweeted, “Yesterday, I received the rude and shocking news of someone deeply dear to me and all of the HOTR family. The passing of Pastor Yinka Akinbami has become most painful because if there truly were good men, he was certainly one. To my brother, sleep well till we meet to part no more.

“Family, kindly allow me to solicit your intercession for his dear wife of over 30 years; Pastor Tolu, his children, his children-in-law, and grandchildren. We can only at best imagine how much pain they are feeling. We share the pain of his loss but they will feel it a lot more.

“It’s important to remind the community about the deadly nature of the Covid-19 and its mutant virus strains. Please do your part by following all the recommended precautions. That way, you are able to protect yourself and others who become proximal to you. God bless and keep us all.”

Entertainer, IK Osakioduwa, also expressed shock over Akinbami’s passing.

He said when he was preparing to get married about 12 years ago, it was the deceased that took charge of the counselling.

Osakioduwa wrote on Instagram, “I don’t post a lot when people pass. This case though is very different for me. This man right here, Pastor Yinka Akinbami, is what you call a good man. He and his lovely wife Pastor Tolu are one of the very few couples I’d call ‘goals’ in this marriage business.

“They counselled my wife and I before marriage and I can say confidently that in the 12 years and counting of our marriage, we have kept striving to live up to the things they taught and showed us. Their love was so real. They didn’t fake it at all.

“He was always willing to answer all our questions, no matter how ‘Unchristian’ they were. He had our time.”