On one of those mornings my regular newspaper vendor could not deliver the morning papers at my home, I went to an alternate newsstand. But the vendor had not shown up. So, I decided to wait a bit. While waiting, I noticed a canopy with a banner not far away, and decided to see what went on. As I got closer, l could see written on the banner: “Do your National ID card. Pre-registration here.”
Unlike the crowd around venues for collection of permanent voter cards, the place was desolate. Nigerians must be wearied, I figured. The young man who sat there had a forlorn look. I asked him what the process was. He said I needed to pay N300 to fill a form, and after that I would go to a local government to collect the card.
I had a sneak peek at the many forms he had on his table. This National Identification Card promises other features, including that I could use it as an ATM card. I paused for a while. Then, he asked me if I was ready. I gave him a wry smile. My hands were now in my pockets. The feel of my ATM card in my left pocket gave me a canny feeling. I also caressed my work ID card on my right pocket, and the naira bills co-habiting with it. I thought of my voter card, my driving licence, my travelling passport, my Lagos State Residents Registration Agency ID, my old rejected national ID card, my bank verification number, other ID cards of one association or the other, and with SIM registration, maybe, soon my phone will also be added to the mix.
And just then, the vendor showed up. As I made to meet the vendor, the young man asked, “Oga, are you not doing again?” Know what I told him? “Not now, Sunny, I have got an ‘idgraine’ headache!”
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
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