Data Collation Apathy: Nigeria’s government makes National Identity Number compulsory condition for e-passport

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Owing to apathy with regards to data collation in the country, Federal Government has made it mandatory for Nigerians seeking to be issued e-passport from the immigration office to first produce their National Identity Numbers (NIN).

The policy would take effect as from January 1st 2018, which is coming under a renewed move by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to harmonize of all data relating to Nigerians, including bio-metric information.

The National Identity Management Commission(NIMC),Nigerian Immigration Service as well as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) managements are expected to drive the process.

Foreigners residing in Nigeria would not be exempted from the policy as they would be required to obtain an identification number before they can get residency permits.

This much was revealed on Tuesday by the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede at the State House, Abuja, after a tripartite meeting of the database harmonization committee.

“We have agreed that from 2018 1st January, anybody who is going to apply for Nigerian Passport, whether renewal or fresh must first have a NIMC number, national identity number.

“I have also given directive that any foreigner, non Nigerian resident in Nigeria will not get his permit renewed until he has a NIMC number. To achieve this, NIMC and passport numbers will be harmonised and we are committed to allowing NIMC staff work in Immigration offices” he said.

The immigration boss explained that the database harmonisation policy will further ease the process of doing business in the country, especially in line with the Presidential Ease of Doing Business Council’s (PEBEC) mandate.

“When this policy takes off, there will be no need for you to go and have your bio metric captured by NIMC and then you come and capture again with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“Once you give us your NIMC number we will collect the bio metric from NIMC and produce your passport. That is the intention to do in all other agencies,”he stated.

Independent observes that the policy change is being initiated twenty three months after Presidential Muhammadu Buahri gave a directive for the harmonisation of Nigeria’s biometric data.

Government had earlier said the harmonisation efforts were stalled following lack of funds. Nigeria has multiple identity management system with the Banks issuing out Bank Verification Number (BVN), Sim card registration carried out by the Nigerian Communications Commission, Voters registration by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), School registration done at various Local Government Areas (LGAs), birth registration by National Population Commission (NPC), International Passport by Nigeria Immigration Service and drivers license jointly issued by the Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) and Federal Road Safety Corps.

“when you come to get the passport you can also get the National identity card. The NIMC has also allowed immigration staff to work in their offices so anybody who is coming to claim Nigerian citizenship they will help to identify that citizen. That is the cooperation that we have had so far”.

Meanwhile, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Information Communication and Technology, Lanre Osibona, who also spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said government was determined to ensure the delivery of a concise database for all Nigerians.

According to him in the two years since the Presidential directive, the NIMC has moved the number of those on its database from 5million to about 20million and was targeting to raise it up to 30million by the end of this year.

“We are working with the world bank and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to have a proper approach of how we will be able to capture over 180million over a three year period” he said

He noted that the meeting also took into cognizance efforts of digital economy, issues relating to Public Key Infrastructure which will sit within NITDA.

“An intention of this is to allow for digital signing of key documents being able to authenticate our document digitally.

“Again this helps meet the effort of the PEBEC on the ease of doing business. So we will be able to have CAC be able to issue certificates digitally, NHIS, Tax Clearance. So the resolution as part of the meeting was that this will be driven by NITDA.

“A centralised database will help in forecasting and planning the budget, financial inclusion, innovation, security amongst others,”he said.


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