No database on 70 per cent of Nigerians, says commission

A disclosure came at the weekend from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians currently do not exist on any official database in the country.

This, according to the commission, has necessitated the need for a harmonised database for the nation’s teeming population.

This was revealed at the weekend in Lagos by the Director General, NIMC, Dr. Chris Onyemenam, adding that there was need to confirm identities at several points in life.

Onyemenam, while delivering a lecture with the theme: “National Identity Management: Matters Arising,” as the guest speaker at the National Information Merit Awards and the investiture of the 11th president of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), said according to the National Population Commission, less than 30 per cent of births are duly registered.

Continuing, he said up to 70 per cent of the documents in circulation used for identity is fake, for example 60 per cent of drivers license in Delta State are fake (FRSC July 2010).

Onyemenam added that no issuing authority provides real-time or timely verification of its card or document, which according to him portends great danger for Nigeria, “Any black person can claim to be a Nigerian. If you can’t rule them in, you can’t rule them out.”

He posited that a codified database, as been championed by the Federal Government through the NIMC, would among others improve physical security; improve governance and service delivery; improve human rights; creates a more secured business environment and help to deepen financial service and inclusion in the country.

Besides, the NIMC chief said unlike in the past when the project was mainly focused on identity card printing and issuance, NIM system (NIMS) would allow for an identity authentication and verification, through the creation of access to a National Identity Database (NID), and the upgrading of the Identity Card to smart cards, (the General Multi-purpose Card GMPC) that will support multiple ID application known as Identity Management.

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By Adeyemi Adepetun

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