*Use TOKENSATION to save situation

The National Identity Management(NIMC) has hit hard at some commercial banks and telecommunications providers for refusing to attend to their customers over what they called breakdown of NIMC’s portal. The Commission, in a similar vein lashed out at the Nigerian Immigration Service, saying it has no justification turning back international passport seekers on the ground that it officials could not access NIMC’s portal. Some banks reportedly refused to attend to their customers over the weekend and blamed failure of NIN verification portal of the NIMC for their action.

They said it was a setback to their operations.

The development, News Express learnt also affected issuance of International passport and telecommunications services. However, reacting swiftly, NIMC chided the banks and telcos for blaming it. NIMC said it was an unreasonable action for the organisations to shirk their duties.

The Commission said these organisations have an alternative platform through which they could render services.The alternative platform according to NIMC is TOKENISATION.

“Tokenization is working!!!”. Declare NIMC.

Hear NIMC Head Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke:“Even though the NIN verification service (NVS) might be down due to maintenance by one of our service providers of its infrastructure, the alternative platform - TOKENISATION is up and running. No one should be debarred of any service on the guise of NIN not being verified”. Adding “The NVS issue has not in any way affected our other operations and services-Enrollment/issuance of NIN and other services going on”.

“There is the need to ask questions from the Telcos, NIS, Banks and others on the reason for turning down customers in the guise of NIN not being verified due to the temporary unavailability of the NVS, while the alternative platform- Tokenization is working!!!

“NIMC NVS platform is not the only verification platform available for use, but Tokenisation which protects the identity of NIN holders is also up and running!!!

“And for accurate information, it is not a NIMC problem, rather, a government service provider has embarked on maintenance of its infrastructure, which has affected most government agencies that rely on it for the provision of IT service.

“But for us in NIMC, the TOKENIZATION is available for the verification of the NIN before rendering services”. He said

Earlier, NIMC had however apologised for any inconveniences the development might cause the registrants.

Clarifying the issue on Saturday, as reported by News Express NIMC said that maintenance service being carried out by one of its network service providers was causing temporary unavailable service for NIN verification.

But the Commission assures that verification and authentication services would be restored once the maintenance is done with. “As all hands are on deck to ensure speedy restoration.” It added.

The Commission said that in the main time, intending registrants have been directed to the alternative Tokenisation verification platform. It urges the registrants to visithttps://wiki.nmic.gov.ng.

NIMC told intending registrants of the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) facing verification challenges maintenance works would be done with soon.