Nigerians can now register for their National Identification Numbers online from the convenience of their homes using a smartphone thanks to a self-service solution made available by the National Identity Management Commission.
In Abuja on Saturday, the Commission and the Ministry of Interior celebrated the 5th Identity Day, at which time the platform was unveiled.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Commission’s acting director general and chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of identity in the nation at the launch.
Identity, in her words, “symbolizes our existence, our privileges, and our place within society. It is more than just a card or a number. It opens up doors to crucial services, social advantages, and routes to development on both a personal and professional level. It serves as a link between our unique humanity and our shared individuality.
She also emphasized how important it is to prioritize the principles of data protection and privacy in order to maintain vigilance in preserving the integrity and security of identity systems.
As she worked to provide identity solutions for everyone, she said, “Above all, we must be inclusive, leaving no one behind.”
A good identity management system, according to the head of the NIMC, may aid Nigeria in a number of ways, including helping the nation fight insecurity and supporting its citizens.
Regarding the rationale behind the self-service platform, she remarked, “We are attempting to shorten the registration turnaround time. Getting a registration has been the subject of numerous complaints from common Nigerians, I have noticed. After registration is complete, it takes them a while to receive feedback.
“So, what we’re trying to do is make it as simple as possible for you to register from the comfort of your home. You can contact the NIMC headquarters or any of our neighborhood front-end partners if you don’t have access to a digital tool.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of the interior, stated in a press conference following the ceremony that the federal government plans to synchronize all data pertaining to the identification of Nigerians.
He assured them, “I want to reassure you that we are working on the mechanisms of harmonizing all the identity data that we have, from BVN to the telcos, the NIMC, voter identification, and everything. Because NIMC is a statutory organization with the authority to synchronize and maintain a national identity database, we will be collaborating closely with them.
The Banksforte Technology Limited, a division of the Banksforte Group that provides services in project management, construction engineering, information technology, and other fields, will power the NIMC self-service enrolment system.
Despite being launched on Saturday, the self-service application was not yet accessible for download on the PlayStore or the App Store, according to The Nigerian News.
The application was developed in collaboration with NIMC and is known as the NIMC Contactless Biometric Solution, according to Mr. Dayo Bankole, Chief Executive Officer of Barnksforte Technology Limited.
He responded, “The NIMC will decide when it is accessible for download. But I have no doubt that it will be published as soon as feasible.
Because of the app, Nigerians—including those living abroad—won’t have to go to a NIMC office or partner-agent office to get help with NIN-related concerns.
Additionally, it permits changes, such as changing one’s age, which according to the CEO of Barnksforte can only be made once on the application.
