The Central Bank, through Nigerian banks, has recently sent out notifications urging customers to link their National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).
However, the hashtag #NIN/BVN has been trending on X, with numerous customers expressing concerns about the emotional and physical turmoil involved in the rush to complete the linkage.
While some customers view this as a redundant process due to the documentation already required during the account opening, Nairametrics discovered that many may have linked their BVN but have not yet linked their NIN, as mandated by the new directive.
For tier 2 and 3 accounts and wallets, the CBN’s directive stipulates that they must be linked with both BVN and NIN, whereas tier 1 accounts have the option of linking with either BVN or NIN.
Bank sources indicate that some customers who linked their BVN have discrepancies in their details and will need to rectify these to prevent potential account blocks.
Despite the challenges, several bank customers are expressing frustration and calling on the CBN to reconsider introducing self-service features to enable customers to carry out this process without enduring long queues at the bank.
What Nigerians are saying
Samuel Ajayi
- I hope banks in Nigeria are not expecting people to come physically to link NIN and BVN What do they want Nigerians in diaspora to do if it can’t be done online?
I hope banks in Nigeria are not expecting people to come physically to link NIN and BVN
What do they want Nigerians in diaspora to do if it can't be done online?
— Samuel Ajayi 🇳🇬🗣️🌐 (@SamdGreat01) February 29, 2024
Ife
- Dear @cenbank, Please, kindly ask banks in Nigeria to create a self-service in the apps or anything to ease the linking of NIN and BVN. The country is hard. Queuing people up in this economy because of this exercise is a whole lot. Please help the people! Thanks.
Dear @cenbank,
Please, kindly ask banks in Nigeria to create a self-service in the apps or anything to ease the linking of NIN and BVN. The country is hard. Queuing people up in this economy because of this exercise is a whole lot. Please help the people! Thanks.
Ifé
Kindly RT
— Ifé (@Ife_musiq) February 29, 2024
Victor
- You can actually link through their online bank web page. I did mine through same…GTB and stanbic ibtc.
You can actually link through their online bank web page.
I did mine through same…GTB and stanbic ibtc.— 💕 Victor 💕 (@EbinumJohan) February 29, 2024
Dandy
- Do these banks really expect us to line up to verify abi validate NIN and BVN in 2024? What manner of backwardness is this? Why can’t they make it available on their mobile apps like Opay did? Anyway, block the accounts. I’m not going to queue up for anything.
Do these banks really expect us to line up to verify abi validate NIN and BVN in 2024?
What manner of backwardness is this? Why can't they make it available on their mobile apps like Opay did?
Anyway, block the accounts. I'm not going to queue up for anything.
— Dandy ✯ (@Dandy__x) February 27, 2024
Sinzu baba
- CBN asking NIN and BVN to be linked but don’t your banks already have this data so can’t they just internally prompt you add from mobile phone ?
CBN asking NIN and BVN to be linked but don’t your banks already have this data so can’t they just internally prompt you add from mobile phone ?
— Immortal King (@sinzubaba) February 29, 2024
Godbody
- Got the message from my bank, went to the website to link but was told my data is up to date. But when I used the USSD I got a message that I needed to link the bvn. Can’t even go to a bank branch cuz… Confused af
Got the message from my bank, went to the website to link but was told my data is up to date. But when I used the USSD I got a message that I needed to link the bvn. Can't even go to a bank branch cuz…
Confused af
— Godbody (@B16J03) February 29, 2024
Mayor_lagz
- Why can’t these banks allow NIN and BVN linkage through their mobile app? Won’t that be more seamless?!
Why can't these banks allow NIN and BVN linkage through their mobile app? Won't that be more seamless?!
— The Pastor 🤵🏽 (@Mayor_Jagz) February 29, 2024
Nuelowogundu
- It’s just dawning on me that Why are we linking NIN and BVN again, Is BVN not suppose to link all our identities? Dear banks just bring out an online channel to do this please.
It’s just dawning on me that
Why are we linking NIN and BVN again,
Is BVN not suppose to link all our identities?
Dear banks just bring out an online channel to do this please.
— The Confident Designer👨🏽💻 (@nuelwogundu) February 29, 2024
Talk2veee
- They like Making us suffer for nothing in this country Which is one linking of NIN and BVN to bank account …again?? Only one data capture is enough!! It’s not as if they use it to do anything unto you offend the government SMH We should just laminate ourselves.
They like Making us suffer for nothing in this country
Which is one linking of NIN and BVN to bank account …again??
Only one data capture is enough!!
It’s not as if they use it to do anything unto you offend the government
SMH 🤦🏽♀️
We should just laminate ourselves— Talk2veee (@talk2veee) February 28, 2024
The Government of Nigeria have taken people of Nigeria as goats. How would ask your citizens to queue up at this 21st century. Make it in a way to ease the citizens. I think it’s our leaders who are lacking in sound intelligent.