Nigerian singer cum politician, Banky W says the insistence on enrollment for national identity number (NIN) despite the COVID-19 surge shows the “irresponsibility and recklessness” of the federal government.

In December, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had directed telecommunications companies to block SIM cards not registered with the national identity number (NIN).

The directive, which comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, has, however, continued to generate concerns in several quarters, with some Nigerians accusing the government of insensitivity.

Although the federal government hinted at the possibility of suspending the enrollment exercise, it has continued across the country.

Commenting on the development in a Twitter thread on Friday, Banky W accused the federal government of being “inconsiderate.”

The 39-year-old politician said it is unfortunate that the government would encourage crowded queues at the various enrollment centres thereby putting the citizens at the risk of contracting the deadly virus.

“@NCDCgov @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident This is completely responsible of us as a country, to insist on this mad scramble for NIN numbers in the middle of COVID-19’s 2nd wave. People are dying. We should be smarter/wiser/better than this for goodness sake,” he wrote.

“In the middle of the pandemic, this is how our Nigerian Government has its citizens queuing up to get their NIN numbers. Completely reckless, inconsiderate, and dangerous. Then tomorrow the NCDC will release covid infection rates and say social distancing. This country sha. Kai.

“Can we take more pictures & videos of NIN enrollment centers and post them to @NCDCgov @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident.

“How they can tell us to do social distancing on one hand and then use this NIN madness to expose all of us to covid? We must embarrass them into doing the right thing.”