NewStats: 3,264,507 , 8,183,931 topics. Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 11:00 AM 6l3s3s

Posted by Clement Idoko - Abuja



The Federal Government has announced its decision to stop what it called proliferation and duplication of biometric-based identity systems in the country.

Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Habiba Lawal, stated this in Abuja while inaugurating a former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, alongside eight others as chairman and , respectively of the Governing Board of the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC).

Lawal noted that the Federal Government established the NIMC as the primary institution charged with the responsibility of providing and regulating identity management in Nigeria, the issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) and ID card to all registrable persons as well as the harmonisation and integration of existing identification databases in government agencies and integrating them into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

Represented on the board are the military, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, other government agencies and the private sector.

Among the first task the ex-governor and his team have been saddled with is the harmonisation of databases of Nigerians believed to have been unnecessarily duplicated.

Data expected to be harmonized included the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card registration being handled by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC); Bank Verification Number (BVN); Drivers Licence from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC); and voters card number among others.

Lawal said the istration of President Muhammadu Buhari expects the proliferation and duplication of biometric-based identity systems to stop as it was neither cost effective, nor security smart.

“Apart from being unwieldy, the cost of operating multiple discordant databases and infrastructure is untainable,” Lawal had stated.

She urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to come up with a more effective and innovative identity management system that was devoid of duplication for the country.

Mrs Lawal also said despite the successes of the commission at data capture of registrable persons in the country, “there was still much more to be done.”

She urged of the Board who were drawn from both the public and private sectors, to take a cue from the countries that have successfully issued unique identity to its citizens and have utilised such identity to transform their society and economy.

“We need change, positive change in our identity eco-system. The change starts with all of us agreeing to make the sacrifices and commitment required, defining clear policy direction and taking collective actions to achieve our common goal.

“The NIMC must focus its energy on ensuring that the remaining component of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) roll-out alignment and switching over by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through the harmonization and integration framework is successfully implemented.

“The speed of data collection must have to be improved upon, and this will reduce justifications given by MDAs, as reasons for duplicated biometric options.

“Hopefully, the harmonisation programme, being spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President, will help to achieve this, especially, by the commission ensuring that the MDAs switch or at least, align their existing infrastructure as data collection agents to the NIMC system,” she said.

In an acceptance speech, Oyinlola gave the assurance that the Board will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them by the government.

“We, therefore, pledge our loyalty to our dear nation and Mr President who has recognised our inherent capabilities and made the appointment, based on trust, competence and the confidence reposed in us.

“We shall live up to expectations, especially given the fact that the burden placed on our shoulders is a very sensitive and significant one that must be carried with every sincerity and patriotism,” he said.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/fg-merge-bvn-drivers-licence-national-identity-card/

NIN that can take a century to be out

In the next 10 years dey won't be able to implement this project.... ...

I think it's a brilliant idea.

fuckingAyaya:
NIN that can take a century to be out

You know this is false right? You get your NIN when you for you National ID card. Not when you get the ID card

Only those with 'skeleton in their cupboard' will become agitated by this

Until we get it right with our data bank, alot of things would continue to elude us in this country, especially as regards crime prevention, detection, and investigation.

At this stage, we should be able to have a comprehensive pool of info of at least, 50% of our population, especially that incorporating fingerprints. The significance of that cannot be overemphasized.

They should kuku merge all of us.

BabaRamotu1988:
[s][/s]
[s]Rubbish you're programed not to ever make sense
so stick to your game
and stop making sense
Nonsense trash[/s]

Hahaha… I laugh in Biafrauud, see someone who is programmed to make sense, you have been a complete nuisance on this forum

I thought​ northerners resisted this during Jonathan era

Nigeria is not ripe for this. If someone hacks into the database they can cause a lot of damage.

They have not said anything new

Since 2015 this govt is busy merging BVN with national identity

All talk no action!

The national ID process is a snail. Based on experience.

LadyOfgrace:
I think it's a brilliant idea.

We are never short of brilliant ideas in this country. The problem is a 14 letter word: IMPLEMENTATION.

So what have they been thinking since? Cluesleless government.What about the voters card? Collecting data here and there with no useful application.Synchronize everything.

I guess lia mohamend must have informed them do that, so they can effectively block Ipob sponsors.

At last, we moving forward as a nation.

If that can be successfully done, crime's gonna reduce over 50%

Na them sabi

Hmm. Not a bad idea but this is not one of our most pressing needs. The government doesn't know how to prioritise issues.

Jonathan right now

Hmmm

better, this will sanitize our country very well. when usa drivers license is inserted in the system, it will display every thing about the person.

This should assist in solving crimes
A country that doesn’t know his population?
We have a long way to go

Heard about this from a banker before now.
Reason why data was collected from bank in form of BVN, was because it was arguably the most visited sector in the country.

I think this project have become a white elephant approach for every new govt to steal........

They'll condemn the former and re-embark on another spending spree on the new one.

This is serious.

Its a great idea, but its becoming a joke in Nigeria instance.

About time.

BabaRamotu1988:
[s][/s]
Rubbish you're programed not to ever make sense
so stick to your game
and stop making sense
Nonsense trash

That's the most sense seen on this topic.