Anthony Iwuoma
In order to enable his constituents to register and obtain their National Identification Number (NIN), the Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Frank Ibezim has partnered with approved Nimco agents to bring the exercise to the doorsteps of his constituents.
The overall NIN registration process in the zone has been slow. People have had to travel far to neighbouring towns like the state capital, Owerri, and Umuahia in Abia State to get registered. Sometimes too, after such difficult journeys, network challenges affect their successes, making it common occurrence for constituents to make multiple trips to distant places to get captured.
Lack of the NIN has also robbed some Imo North constituents of opportunities to benefit from the numerous financial grants, such as the interest-free Covid-19 loans, amongst other perks from the Federal Government that the Distinguished Senator Ibezim attracted for the people.
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During the exercise, the Senator noted that some of his constituents, who would have ordinarily qualified for one programme or another lost out because they did not have their NIN, adding that NIN is now a requirement for JAMB and other exam registrations for students.
Consequently, the Senator is now leading a campaign, to partner with the community, schools and churches to ensure that every citizen of his district is captured and thus make them eligible for available Federal Government sponsored programmes, amongst other benefits, which he has continued to bring home.
In furtherance of this novel idea, the senator is equipping all his constituency offices in the six local government areas that make up the zone, as NIN registration/capturing centres while taking a step further to empower select youths by setting them up as agents.
The lawmaker has also turned the exercise into an empowerment programme whereby select youths from each electoral ward of the district will receive NIN Registration kit and training to make it easy for constituents to be captured free of charge.
Under the programme, each participating youth would be compensated with a cash reward for each constituent they register.
Apart from making the NIN registration easier for the people, it is projected that this a rare opportunity would present over 120 youths across the zone opportunities to make some money.
Ibezim insists on programmes that have meaningful impact on the teeming youth populace in his constituency, as he promised during his electioneering campaign and would always say: “It is time for governance; let’s make Okigwe great.”
Meanwhile, Ibezim, who is seeking reelection to the Senate in 2023, has since obtained and completed his nomination forms. He has also successfully undergone screening by the party.
If his laudable achievements in the one year he has been in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly are considered, it is self-evident that he is poles apart from other interested contenders.
The mood of the people is that of eager anticipation of his return to consolidate on the gains of the last one year and greater democracy dividends he is poised to bring home as a ranking member in the upper legislative house.