TheNewsGuru

Tag: NIMC

  • We’ve issued identity numbers to about 41 million Nigerians – NIMC

    We’ve issued identity numbers to about 41 million Nigerians – NIMC

    The National Identity Management Commission says it has enrolled and issued 41 million Nigerians with National Identity Number as of today.

    The Director-General at the NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, in an interview with journalists, said enrolment was ongoing for Nigerians in the Diaspora in 15 other countries.

    According to him, the NIN has been approved by the Federal Government as the only valid means of identification for government services by law and is a requirement for the application for a new and renewal of an expired Nigerian passport, among others.

    Highlighting challenges slowing down the rate of enrolment, he said inadequate electricity, Information Technology infrastructure, inadequate enrolment centres and devices and insufficient sensitisation and awareness of the public, among others, still persisted.

    According to him, the challenges are being addressed in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders, government and with the help of the media.

    “As of today, we have reached record 41 million by sheer determination and hard work. I owe all of this to the great staff of the NIMC who pushed themselves beyond their limits to see this happen,” he said.

    “Diaspora enrolment was greatly received by the Nigerians in other countries and it has been going well since the launch. Enrolment is happening in over 15 countries across the world, with more countries to come on board in the near future.”

    He said the plans to implement the strategic road map for accelerating digital identity in the country in June 2020 had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to him, the project will either begin in September or December this year.

    Aziz said the $433m it secured from the World Bank, Agence Francaise de Development and the European Union would be used for the expansion of enrolment centres to 4,000.

    “The funding covers digital ID enrolment, issuance and usage; strengthening of the enabling law, security, privacy, data protection and cybersecurity mechanisms; as well as strengthening the IT and other backend infrastructure,” the NIMC boss stated.

    He added, “There is still a need for funding on the card aspect of the programme as well as on the other regulatory functions of the commission. We are consulting with the Federal Government on these aspects.”

    Aziz explained that the commission was working on strategies to scale up card production and issuance in partnership with the private sector.

    However, he said NIN was sufficient to prove or assert the identity of Nigerians anytime, anywhere.

  • NIMC shuts down enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, 3 others

    NIMC shuts down enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, 3 others

    The National Identity Management Commission has ordered the immediate shutdown of enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, Ogun and Anambra states as part of preventive measures against the spread of Coronavirus.

    The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the head of Corporate Communications of NIMC Mr Kayode Adegoke on Friday in Abuja.

    ” As part of the measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the NIMC has ordered the immediate shutdown of all its enrollment centers in Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, Ogun and Anambra states,” he said.

    Adegoke said, the decision became necessary to protect staff and applicants from the Coronavirus.

    ”The move becomes necessary to prevent our Staff and applicants from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.

    ” Consequently, all enrolment activities, card collection and other identity related activities are hereby suspended in the aforementioned states till further notice.

    ” The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat,” he said.

    He said, the commission however regretted any inconvenience caused as a result of their decision.

    ”We hereby regret any inconvenience the closure may cause as our paramount concern as responsible and responsive commission is the safety of all,” he said(

  • Reps to investigate NIMC over identification number

    The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Population to investigate the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over the registration of Nigerians for the National Identity Number (NIN).

    The decision followed a motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by Rep. Ben Igbakpa (PDP-Delta) during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday.

    The Federal Government reportedly made NIN, the national identity card, as a requirement for all financial and institutional dealings in the country with millions of Nigerians yet to get it.

    The motion is tagged “The Need for the PTDF to Suspend the National Identity Number as a Precondition for Scholarships, and Related Matters”.

    Presenting the motion, Igbakpa said that the Petroleum Technology Development Fund ( PTDF) had announced that applicants for its 2020 scholarship for Masters and PHD degrees, must have a NIN and verify before applying for the scholarship.

    The lawmaker alleged that the registration process of NIMC was “laborious and slow nationwide” and attributed it to inadequate facilities and manpower.

    “The Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez, recently admitted in a national daily that they are overwhelmed with work because, whereas they need about 4,000 centres nationwide, they make do with only 1,000 centres at the moment.”

    Igbakpa called for the suspension of the NIN as a requirement for prospective applicants for the 2020 PTDF scholarship.

    The lawmaker said that PTDF making NIN a prerequisite for its scholarship was undermining efforts at developing the nation’s human capital development.

    “The motion is about trying to save our manpower; NIN, as a prerequisite for PTDF scholarship should not be supported and I urged the house to use other (officially) recognised means of identification.”

    He also called on other government agencies to suspend requirement of the NIN in any registration or application and urged that the PTDF provide at least one year moratorium for applicants who have not obtained the NIN to do so.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Chief Whip, Rep. Nkiruka Ihejiocha called on the house to investigate NIMC over reasons why just few Nigerians had got the NIN cards.

    “We have to go beyond suspending the use of NIN because the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently also had to suspend the requirement of NIN for registration of exams.

    “We need to investigate why the delay in people not getting the NIN.”

    Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP-Abia) urged the committee to interface with the agency and “not suspend the requirement of NIN”.

    The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu added that “someone is not doing their job and we have to investigate why it is difficult for Nigerians to register”.

    “The committee should investigate why it is impossible for Nigerians to be registered and report back to the house in two weeks.”

    Okechukwu suggested that NIMC come up with a change in the mode of registration and take the facilities also to schools to capture students.

    Rep. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Lagos), however, said that the PTDF and other government agencies should not suspend the requirement of NIN as a prerequisite for registration.

    “Getting a scholarship is a privilege and if a person wants to enjoy that privilege, get the required means of identification.

    “When JAMB suspended the requirement of NIN for the conduct of its examinations, registration at NIMC office stopped. All agencies must demand the NIN or else we will not move forward.”

    The house, however, called on the Federal Government to put an integrated system for data collection in place for agencies responsible for data collection.

    It said that the Local Government Indigenous Certificate be used in place of NIN and also mandated the Committee on Population to investigate the non-access of the identification number by Nigerians.

    The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to properly fund and equip NIMC for speedy and efficient nationwide delivery.

  • Over 100 million Nigerians not captured on nation’s identification scheme – NIMC DG

    The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Abubakar said over 100 million Nigerians have no official identity.

    The DG made this known on Monday in Kaduna, in a paper on Importance of National Identity to National Building, presented during the 6th General Assembly of Northern Traditional Rulers Council.

    According to him, those with no identity comprised the poorest most vulnerable groups, including women and girls and less educated people among others.

    He explained that an inclusive and trusted identity system can help in empowering individuals and enhance their access to rights, services and formal economy.

    Abubakar added that it would also assist in generating reliable and continuous statistics to measure progress, support informed policies and enable the growth of the digital economy.

    In his presentation on Border Closure, the Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), explained that the measure had curved smuggling of prohibited items into the country.

    Ali also said it had raised the NCS daily revenue collection from N4 billion before the border closure to N6 billion.

    The NCS boss, who was represented by Comptroller Omiye Adesanmi, noted that smuggling of illicit drugs and weapons into the country had also drastically reduced.

    He explained that Nigeria has engaged Customs administrations of neighbouring countries to comply with the ECOWAS protocol on the transit of goods and persons, to protect the Nigerian economy from the effects of smuggling.

    Ali pledged to seek stakeholders support including the media to ensure that the desired objectives of the exercise were fully achieved.

    He urged Nigerians to patronise local rice and other goods, to boost the nation’s economy.

    Another presentation on “Northern Youths and the Challenges of Drug Abuse in Nigeria”, by the Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdullahi (rtd), noted that the future of the youth in Northern Nigeria was being threatened by the flow of illicit drugs.

    He lamented that the positive support, dedication, integrity and leadership that the region expected from the youths have vanished, as large part of the youth population have resorted to the use hard of drugs.

    Abdullahi called for massive education and enlightenment campaign across the country on the dangers of illicit drugs use, noting that ignorance and lack of adequate knowledge were partly responsible for drug abuse.

  • NIMC issues 36.6m National Identity Numbers – DG

    NIMC issues 36.6m National Identity Numbers – DG

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has issued 36.6 million National Identity Numbers – NIN to Nigerians as at Sept. 11.

    Mr Aliyu Aziz, the Director-General of the commission, disclosed this at an interactive session with newsmen on Thursday, ahead of National Identity Day celebration in the country, slated for Sept. 16.

    Aziz said the ongoing enrolment of citizens for the NIN would help to address security challenges confronting the country as it would enable security agencies to identify the culprits via their national identity data base.

    “Security challenge is a known problem, so if everyone is identified in Nigeria via national identity number, anytime somebody commits crime, he or she can be easily identified.

    “We can ensure that every Nigerian has his or her National Identity Number (NIN) so that he or she can be identified as a Nigerian because that will go a long way in ensuring national security.

    “One of the problems we have in security has to do with our inability to identify who is a Nigerian or a foreigner residing in Nigeria,“ he said.

    Aziz said the commemoration of the day would be used to create awareness for Nigerians to get enrolled into the database of NIMC for the purpose of economic development and national security.

    “The Federal government has approved for NIMC to join the coalition of International Identity Day,(IID) coming on Sept.16 in recognition of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

    “This IID calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration by 2030 as part of the activities to mark national identity day in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    “As federal government agenda, we are all enjoined to work together as one to achieve the ID objectives and bequeath a sustainable and credible system of identity to our nation and generations to come,’’ he said.

    Aziz stressed that there was strong relationship between identification and security, adding that both were central to achieve transformational and developmental agenda of Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the first time Nigeria will join the rest of the world to observe International Identity Day.

    The theme for 2019 is “Assured Digital Identity for All’’ while President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to unveil the International Identity Day emblem, according to Aziz.

  • NIMC extends registration to Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, Germany, other countries

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
    The National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) has concluded plans to extend the National Identification Number (NIN) registration to other countries including Saudi Arabia, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Senegal, Benin Republic, Mali, India, amongst others.
    This follows the successful deployment of enrolment Centres in South Africa, US, UK, earlier this year.
    This was made known to newsmen through a release signed by Abdulhamid Umar, General Manager, Operations/Corporate Commission of NIMC, Abuja.
    According to the release, NIMC has also chosen major cities where the enrolment would take place in stated countries, which have high population of Nigerians, to ensure that more Nigerians are captured into the National Identity Database (NIDB).
    The rollout of additional enrolment centres in these cities is in collaboration with NIMC licensed partners: Dantata Universal Services Nigeria Limited/VFS Global, National e-Authentication/Defcon Systems and Slogani Consults Limited.
    The Commission said it has completed plans in the Middle East to start the registration in Saudi Arabia’s two major cities: Jeddah and Riyadh and in Ghana the exercise will take place in Accra, the capital, Dakar in Senegal, Cotonou and Port Novo in Benin Republic.
    There will also be registration centres in Banjul capital of The Gambia, Bamako in Mali, Ndjamena in Chad, Monrovia in Liberia, Lome in Togo, Abidjan in Ivory Coast and Douala in Cameroon.
    In Germany, the NIN enrolment centre will be deployed in Berlin and Frankfurt, and in Vancouver in Canada, Leicester and London in the United Kingdom and Houston in the United State of America.
    The venue for the registration in Jeddah is TasHeel Commercial Plaza, First Floor-Suwald Bin Sakher Street, Off Jundub Bin Kaab Street, Al Mohammadiyah District 1, Jeddah, KSA.
    In Riyadh the enrolment will take place in Shop 2, Zahra Building Umm al Hamam, Opposite Hyper Panda (Dove Plaza), Umm Al Haman Street, Riyadh, KSA.
    In Accra, Nigerians can register on the First Floor, Atlantic Tower, Airport City, Accra, Ghana.
    While in Dakar, the venue is VFS Global, rez de chausses, Immeeuble atrium centre, km 8 route de Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal.
    In Cotonou, there are two venues. The first is Satguru Travel & Tours Services, Immeuble Satguru, Derriere escape and the second is Feud Stade Matheeu Kerekou, rue pave d’ AGLA, 1er VON a gauche Immeuble MSS Sari.
    In Port Novo the venue is Tokpa ruw en face de project Songhai, ruw de I’ Englise Catholique Charles Ouganda, immeuble Carrefour le Destin.
    The enrolment centres in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Liberia and Benin Republic will be flagged-off on the 29th July 2019.
    In India, registration will take place in three major cities; Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai at the following addresses; Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi- 110001, India; No 74, 3rd Floor, Fagun Towers, Ethiraj Salai, Egmore, Chennai-600008, India; Urmi Axis Building, Behind Famous Studio, Opp. E Moses Road, Mahalaxmi (West), Mumbai – 400 01 and will be flagged off on the 31st August 2019.
    The centres in the United Kingdom, Germany, USA and Canada will be flagged off on 1st, 4th, 11th and 14th August respectively.
    Explaining further, the Director General, CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz said that the enrolment of Nigerians in Diaspora is in fulfillment of the NIMC Mandate to enroll all Nigerians, Legal Residents and Nigerians in Diaspora into the National Identity Database (NIDB) and issue them the unique identification number, NIN.
    Aziz added that: “All Licensees are companies that have complied with the requirements for data capture and processing as enshrined in the Laws of the respective countries they operate”.
    The licensed partners include: Biosec Solutions Limited; Slogani Consults Limited; CHAMS Consortium Limited; Defcon Systems Limited/ OIS Services; National eAuthentication Limited/ OIS Services; Thebez Global Resources/ Cox & Kings; Dantata Universal Services/VFS Global; Venn Technology Limited; Kevonne Consults Limited/Iris ID Systems INC.; UGS Technologies Limited/ OrangeHook African Continental/ Carvus; File Solution Limited/ EYE-ID LLC and IRIS Smart Technologies Limited.

  • NIMC begins data capturing of Nigerians in UAE, UK

    Nigerians to start paying for nation Identity cards from 2022 – NIMC

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    In line with the mandate by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that all Nigerian citizens in Nigeria and the diaspora and Legal Residents in Nigeria are enrolled into the National Identity Database and issued the unique National Identification Number (NIN) to applicants upon successful enrolment, the NIMC has commenced enrolment of Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    This was contained in a statement issued by NIMC’s head of corporate communications, Loveday Ogbonna.
    The NIN enrolment in UAE and the UK is in collaboration with the Defcon Systems Limited (DSL) and the National eAuthentication Limited (NeAL), Nigerian Companies licensed by the NIMC to serve as its agents, and carry out enrolment services across the globe with a view to ensuring best-in-class services and inclusivity.
    According to the statement, the exercise will involve the demographic & biometrics data capture of all Nigerian citizens residing in the two countries. The UAE programme is scheduled to take off on Tuesday 26th March, 2019 at the Online Integrated Solutions DMCC office, 22nd Floor, Silver Tower, cluster I Jumeirah Lake Towers Dubai, UAE.

    While the UK programme will take off on Friday 29th March 2019 at the Online Integrated Solutions offices.

    On his part, the Director General of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz explained that the programme will make it easier for Nigerians in Diaspora to be identified as the Federal Government of Nigeria has made the possession of NIN a mandatory requirement for elections, Bank account opening, Land Transactions, access to Legal/health services, acquisition/renewal of the International Passport, Driver’s License and the ECOWAS travel document, amongst others.

    Aziz added that the roll out of additional locations in other cities across the globe where Nigerians reside will be concluded and announced in due course.

    The Nigerian companies licensed to work with their respective partners across all countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America to carry out the enrolment of Nigerian adults and children in the Diaspora into the National Identity Database (NIDB) are Biosec Solutions Limited, CHAMS Consortium Limited, Defcon Systems Limited, National eAuthentication Limited, Thebez Global Resources and Venn Technology Limited.

     

  • No going back on date to sync NIN with passport – FG

    No going back on date to sync NIN with passport – FG

    The Federal Government says there is no going back on the April 29 date for the integration of the National Identity Number (NIN) with the new passport.

    The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Engr. Aliyu Aziz.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIS had postponed the issuance of the new passport from March 4 to April 29.

    The C-G said that the postponement was to enable the service integrate the new passport with the NIN.

    Babandede explained that the postponement was to ensure that every Nigerian whether resident in the country or abroad, must have NIN before getting the new 10 year improved e-passport.

    The C-G explained further that NIN was very compulsory to every Nigerian whether resident in the country or abroad.

    “The Job of NIS cannot be complete without working with NIMC.

    “The directive from President Muhammadu Buhari is clear that every person in our territory must have one identity.

    “That identity should not conflict with other identity agencies since NIMC is the custodian of the identity of citizens.”

    Babandede, however, noted that NIS had shown commitment to implement the President’s directive.

    He said that with the collaborative efforts between the two agencies, there would be no cases of multiple identity.

    “If we work under one ecosystem, this is achievable.

    ‘’Harmonisation of the passport with NIN is not only for security issues but is also a social and developmental issue.

    The immigration boss said that a test run had been carried out with one thousand samples of biometric identity.

    “These biometrics were matched with NIN with that of passport and the success recorded is 89.4 per cent.”

    The Director-General of the commission, Aliyu Aziz, assured Nigerians that the procedure for enrolment of NIN was easy, urging them to utilise the opportunity.

    He said that the collaboration between the commission and NIS would be enhanced.

  • Nigerians to start paying for nation Identity cards from 2022 – NIMC

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), says payment for issuance of National Identity Card would begin in 2022.

    NIMC Director General Mr Aliyu Aziz, said this at the lunch time reform seminar on National Digital Identity Ecosystem Strategic Road Map for enrollment of Nigerians and legal residents into National Identity Database (NIDB) in Abuja on Thursday.

    The event was organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in collaboration with NIMC.

    Aziz urged Nigerians to make use of the opportunity to get registered and have an identity.

    He said the National e-ID Card can only be issued to Nigerians registered into the national identity system and legal residents who have attained the age of 16 years and above, unlike the National Identification Number (NIN) which is assignable to Nigerians only.

    The NIMC boss said the e-ID card can be used for identification, payment and other applications in Nigeria.

    According to him, the e-ID card will integrate existing identity database into government institutions and enable everyone to also receive a multipurpose ID card.

    “As a government, we recognise the huge importance of moving towards a digital government therefore, we must embrace and harness the potentials inherent in digital identity to build and develop our country.

    “Nations all over the world and in particular, developed countries have utilised identity as foundation to transforming governance and enhancing service delivery in the areas of healthcare, agriculture, voting, transportation, financial inclusion, access to basic service and welfare programmes,” he said.

    Aziz assured Nigerians that no one would be denied government services on account of not having the National Identity Number (NIN).

    “The mandatory enrollment or collection of data by government agencies or licensed agents, along with private sector organisations to be licensed by NIMC under the digital identity ecosystem means fast-tracking of the enrollment process in the national identity system.

    “We have a mandate to register all Nigerians and legal residents or at least over 95 per cent of the population within the next three years. It does not necessarily mean that NIMC must have offices or enrollment centres in all nooks and crannies of the country, especially given the current economic situation and realities in our country.

    “Instead, in its wisdom the Federal Government approved the new digital identity ecosystem which ensures and mandates all government agencies earlier mentioned and private sector organisations to be licensed by NIMC, to collect citizens’ data using guidelines issued by NIMC through secured approved channels of communication and send such data to NIMC to generate NIN,” he said.

    Aziz enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the NIMC sites to track their e-ID cards from any gadget especially smart phones, tablets, laptops or computers.

    “Open nimc.gov.ng tracking id center: https://touch.nimc.gov.ng/

    “Push the proceed button, fill in your first name and last name as well as your National Identification Number and click on the check now button. Wait for seconds while it is loading and the status of your NIMC card will appear on the display,” he said.

    The NIMC boss said Nigerians can now use the USSD for NIN retrieval, adding that the USSD service would enable them to retrieve their NIN conveniently by using any type of mobile phone as it is also available on all mobile networks in the country.

    “Dial *346# from the options displayed, select NIN retrieval, by typing in 1, if you are using the same phone number you enrolled with for your NIN.

    “Or select NIN Search, by typing in 2, to retrieve your NIN by inputting some of your registered details (if you are not using the same phone number you enrolled with follow the steps displayed on your screen and provide the required inputs.

    “Note that using this service attracts a N20 fee only deducted from your phone credit balance,” he said.

    Earlier in his open remarks, the Acting Director-General, BPSR Mr Dasuki Arabi said the world is currently facing political, economic, social and technological challenges.

    Arabi, who was represented by BPSR Director of Communications, Mr Inyang S Inyang, said the challenges have spurred government institutions to undergo various reforms to cope, address and manage change for improved performance on quality service delivery to citizens.

    “Nigeria, like any other country of the world has undertaken various public sector reforms especially since the beginning of democratic rule in 1999.

    “Part of the public service reform is to move the public service delivery standards to world class, by refocusing public institutions on the citizens and transforming the public service into a value based and well performing institutions,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that NIMC had captured 34 million Nigerians in its data base as at December 2018, the figure comprised of both adults and children.

     

  • 300,000 National ID cards ready for collection — NIMC

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that over 300,000 national identity cards for those who enrolled in 2012 are ready for collection.

    NIMC Spokesman, Loveday Ogbonna, urged enrollees in the year 2012, up to August 2013 and who were yet to pick up their cards, to do so immediately.

    Ogbonna said that those concerned should visit the enrolment centres where they registered and pick up their cards, which had since been printed and ready for collection.

    He said that the commission had pasted names of enrollees whose cards had been printed and awaiting collection at various centres, to enable such individuals check and present themselves for card collection.

    According to him, some of the people in this category may have changed the phone numbers they used to register, hence they are not able to receive text messages informing them that their cards are ready.

    ”Applicants who have relocated and want their cards transferred to their current location should visit any NIMC office closest to them to request for a card transfer form.

    ”They should fill and submit the form to the State Coordinator or Local Government Supervisor for processing.

    ”This is possible for those who either received text message or confirmed via the list pasted at the enrolment centres that their cards are ready for collection. This service is free for now and available at all enrolment centres,” he said.

    Ogbonna said that the transfer process was necessitated by a survey carried out by the Customer Care Unit of the commission.

    He said that the survey showed that over 300,000 enrolled applicants nationwide were yet to pick up their National e-ID cards.

    Ogbonna said that the reasons were because they had either relocated from the locations where they enrolled, or had changed the phone numbers they provided at the point of enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

    ”Thousands of registered applicants have changed the phone numbers they provided at the point of registration, and as such, may not have received our card collection notifications, while some persons may have changed location since after enrolment.

    ”We want to use this medium to appeal to any of such persons to visit any NIMC Enrolment Centre close to them to request for Card transfer,” the NIMC said in a statement.