Some soldiers have issued a stern warning to the Federal Government to abort plans to disconnect their lines as the deadline approaches.
They have however asked for more time while expressing their displeasure. This follows the Federal Government’s initiative to extend the deadline for the National Identification Number – SIM data verification to July 26.
Meanwhile, the soldiers in North-East Borno have cautioned that that is the only way they get in touch with their families.
They added that the government may only insist on the deadline provided alternatives are created for National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) officers to reach the soldiers stationed in the jungle, which may not be practicable due to security concerns.
One of the affected soldiers who spoke with SaharaReporters said,
“Many soldiers are not happy, we are not happy with the decision of the federal government on the issue of NIN linkage with SIM cards and they are giving July 26 deadline. As useless as the Nigerian government is, it has refused to understand that there are soldiers who have been in the bush for more than a year without seeing their families and the SIM cards are the only means of communicating with our families and sending money to them. Now, the government is talking about blocking it without considering that there are people in the bush.”
“It will take a journey of more than two days from the bush before I will locate Maiduguri town, the journey is by bus not on foot. The government is not considering this. Many soldiers are lamenting, we are not happy at all. If the NIMC blocks our SIM cards, I don’t know what will be our fate, do you know how many soldiers are in the North-East?
“Seventy-five percent of Nigerian soldiers are in Maiduguri, just in one state, and we are in the bush and now the NIMC is talking about blocking SIM cards without considering people that have been serving their country for years, with no means to see their families, they shouldn’t try it,” another soldier said.
When asked if there was a way NIMC officials could conduct the verification exercise for soldiers without the military personnel having to leave their duty posts, he said, “There are many bushes they will pass through before getting here. Civilians cannot even use the road. Even if they can get here, how about soldiers in other locations? What will they do? This thing is going to cause a problem in this country.”
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