The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has stated that his life was threatened by criminals when he reintroduced NIN-SIM data tracking.
According to The PUNCH, he expressed dissatisfaction with security services’ failure to use the National Identity Number linked to Subscriber Identity Module data to combat crime, particularly kidnappings and phone-related offences.
This complaint stems from the administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, who mandated the connecting of SIM cards to each citizen’s NIN in 2020.
The President Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad, raised the alarm about the continuous spike in kidnappings for ransom in a Sunday tweet, urging for new legislation or revisions to existing laws to impose the death sentence as punishment for banditry and kidnapping.
Pantami responded to the tweet by blaming security authorities for failing to use NIN-SIM data to combat escalating kidnapping for ransom and banditry.
“The NIN-SIM policy has been effective, however, the relevant anti-crime institutions are to be requested to ensure that it is used effectively when a crime is committed.
“Lack of utilizing it is the main problem, not the policy,” Pantami told reporters.
Pantami, who condemned the policy’s non-use, claimed criminals threatened his life if it was reintroduced.
“On the lack of utilization, I am more concerned than anyone, because criminals threatened my life for reintroducing it, including on BBC Hausa and national dailies; I resisted and ensured its implementation,” he stated.
“If it is not used by the relevant institutions in charge of securing lives and property, then it means I sacrificed my life and ignored all the threats to my life,” he stated.
During Buhari’s presidency, he was a vocal supporter of the NIN registration scheme.
He promised that connecting residents’ NINs to SIMs will be a critical instrument in combating banditry, kidnapping, and phone-related crimes.
