Shehu Sani has asked what the point is in asking citizens to link their SIM to their National Identification Number (NIN) since it hasn’t reduced criminal activities in any way.

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 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 asked to link their SIM to their NIN in the first place since the bandits have been making calls to the families of their victims and no one has been arrested.

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?”