Banks and telecommunication companies have expressed frustration over disruption to their services triggered by continuous downtime on the NIN verification portal.
The downtime to the NIN Verification platform, which started the previous week, had persisted over the weekend despite assurance by the National Identity Management Commission that the problem had been resolved.
As a result of the NIN verification downtime, banks reported having challenges linking new account holders to their NINs, while Mobile Network Operators are similarly unable to link customers’ SIM cards to their NIN records.
The problem has also affected the Nigerian Immigration Service, delaying passport processing for applicants who cannot complete the required verification steps.
Speaking to ConsumerHalla TV anonymously on the negative impact of the development on the banking industry, the CEO of a prominent e-payment company based in Lagos, said, “NIN verification or something has been down since last week. No activation of SIM cards nationwide. Is this not critical national infrastructure, or is it just Internally Generated Revenue?
“We are currently piloting our smart mobility system and service in Enugu. We are unable to activate our 4G communication nodes in each of our vehicles. We’ve been stuck, and unfortunately, there are no alternative networks that one can use. Our only options are to borrow SIM cards and do dry runs. The telcos have not been able to activate SIM cards, a situation they attribute to the breakdown of the NIN verification portal.”
