COVID-19: NIMC Shuts Down Lagos Office

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has shut down its office in Lagos State.

AllNews Nigeria learnt that NIMC shutdown as a result of the large crowds that gathered on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number (NIN).

According to The Punch, NIMC Spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, confirmed the development that the decision was taken to adhere to COVID-19 protocols as the country battled the second wave of the pandemic.

Recall the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) had ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN.

Hundreds of Lagosians trooped to NIMC offices on Monday for their NIN registration. But most of the people, who gathered at the NIMC office in Alausa, and other parts of the state were either not wearing face masks or not observing physical distancing, thereby flouting the protocol put in place by the government.

READ ALSO: NIN Registration: Ministry Of Comms Unveils 'Easy Way' To Be Enrolled Into National Identity Database, Issued Card

When contacted, the NIMC spokesman did not respond to calls on Monday but he replied to a text message.

Adegoke wrote, “It was only shut down today in order to adhere to the COVID-19 pandemic safety protocol. Enrollment would commence tomorrow but applicants would be given a tally confirming date of enrolment.”

Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said NIMC shut down its offices in the state when officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission visited the crowded offices.

Omotoso said, “Officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission learnt that crowd gathered there. So, they went there but before they got there, the people themselves had shut the place because they could no longer control the crowd. It was not the Lagos State Government that shut the place; Lagos State Government officials only went there to advise them that it was not good to encourage crowds at such a time like this. They were the ones who shut it down themselves.”