It feels like nothing works in this country and I've had it way over my head. Getting a National ID card is top 1000 ways to pass out which is crazy for something so essential. I remember queuing in 2014 for days just to register and get my National Identity Number (NIN). I eventually registered and got a slip that had my NIN details. It isn't a temporary form of ID according to the NIMC site, it just shows you carried out the registration process so it's sort of a transaction slip. Six years later, this slip, a mere piece of paper has been my ID. I use it for any registration and whatnot requiring a valid ID. Very funny considering it's not even meant to be a temporary ID.
Ordinarily, we're meant to get the electronic ID card few months after the registration and we can check for availability on the website. Till date, mine isn't ready, likewise others. The NIN is for life but the card has a validity of five years I think. Now imagine me getting my card now, it's going to be an already expired card and I'd have to go through another queuing process to renew it.
I recently heard of a mobile app by NIMC where you can get to print your national e-card yourself on to a paper or a card. I don't trust this app because I didn't really see any valid publication by NIMC about this.
I have no idea why entering my Bank Verification Number (BVN) would get me blacklisted. What if it's a mistake, I mean they're both long numbers so it's not out of the question to make such a mistake.
The next step was to input my NIN and since I was very skeptical about the app, I didnt go further. I checked out reviews about the app on twitter and found a lot of complaints.
I didn't see more than five persons testify they were able to see their correct details and successfully print out of the hundreds of comments I read. The app might or might not be legit. If it is, then that's a terrible job. It's just an ID card not a visa or something! Nigeria needs to do better.
The process of getting the NIN alone is a hassle, a very tedious process that could easily be done online in a few minutes from the comfort of our homes. But its such a shitty system we're in that would rather create loopholes for simple processes just so one way or another, funds can be stolen. Shitty individuals make a shitty nation.
