Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has shed light on the ongoing issue of kidnapping in Nigeria, attributing its persistence to the compromise of the National Identity Number (NIN) database following his departure from office.
Speaking at the Young Professionals Colloquium in Katsina State, Pantami addressed questions surrounding the NIN-SIM linkage and the various factors contributing to insecurity in the country.
He emphasized that while the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, Section 26, mandates that citizens obtain a national identity for purposes beyond security—such as education and healthcare—his primary focus was to ensure that the database served the needs of security institutions.
He revealed that he was instrumental in the formulation of the NIN and SIM National Policy, which required the linking of SIM cards to the national identity database to combat criminal activities, particularly kidnapping.
However, Pantami expressed concern over the integrity of the database after his administration, linking its compromise to subsequent government changes.
During his tenure, Pantami highlighted that millions of SIM cards were successfully linked to the national identity database, and he stressed the importance of maintaining the system’s integrity.
“We achieved over 100 million citizens in our National Database, which is a significant accomplishment. The NIMC Act clearly states that obtaining a national identity is mandatory for every citizen, and its importance extends beyond security to education and health,” he stated.
He further noted, “While my priority was to bolster our security institutions—given that the Constitution emphasizes the government’s responsibility for the security and welfare of its citizens, this initiative was not part of my initial directives.
I took it upon myself to increase enrollment and implement the NIN and SIM National Policy to support security efforts.”
Pantami also explained the significance of linking NIN to SIM cards, stating that it helps verify individual identities. “Criminals often use telephone numbers to negotiate ransoms when they kidnap individuals.
However, if the NIN is linked to the SIM, it allows us to trace the caller’s location, even if they are using the SIM of the kidnapped victim,” he elaborated.
He concluded by asserting that, with the advanced technology deployed in 2022 and early 2023, no phone call made within Nigeria can go untraced, ensuring that authorities can pinpoint the caller’s location, regardless of the caller’s identity.
