Senator Shehu Sani has questioned the essence of linking the National Identity Number (NIN) to SIM cards as no criminal has been caught through this medium.
He argues that Bandits call the victims families to request for ransom and no one has been able to trace them to effect any arrest.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said last year that linking SIM cards to NIN will enhance security as it would help security operatives to go after kidnappers and other criminals.He said, “Some of the security institutions, based on the cybercrime law, are allowed to gain access to the database without coming to us because the database allows for lawful intercept. That lawful intercept was allowed in order to support our security agencies.”
President Muhammadu Buhari also called on Nigerians to participate in the synchronization of National Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards across the country, as it will provide a digital framework for improving security and strengthening the economy.
However, after bandits attacked a train along the Abuja-Kaduna track and kidnapped some passengers, Senator Shehu Sani is now asking why Nigerians were made to link their details if it’s not effective.
He tweeted: “The Train Kidnappers are freely making calls to the families of their hostages;What happened to the SIM card registration and the NIN hoopla?”
