‘Why Federal Govt launched new digital identity ecosystem’
THE Federal Government said it launched the new Digital Identity Ecosystem programme to facilitate the collection of citizens’ biometric data nationwide within the shortest time possible.
The Director-general, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz, gave the explanation in Abuja, at the 2019 lunch time reform seminar organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).
“The purpose of the ecosystem approach is to leverage existing capabilities and enrollment facilities of government agencies, partners and private sector organisations in Nigeria, as opposed to building new ones,” Aziz was quoted in a statement.
This, he said, involves “coordinated efforts of all enrollment partners,” including all government agencies involved in biometric data collection as well as partners and companies in the private sector to be licensed by NIMC.
In his presentation titled: “Reinventing Nigeria’s Digital Identity Ecosystem,” Aziz, an engineer, said with the approval by the Federal Executive Council of the National Roadmap on Identity Development in Nigeria, the NIMC Regulations 2017, ISO Certified and upgraded backend in place, “it’s now time to commence the implementation of the Mandatory usage of the National Identification Number (NIN).”
“NIMC will facilitate collect- ing of identity data (biometric and demographic data) by also ensuring that partners collect data and are paid per successful enrollment. NIMC stores data and uses same to offer a Unique ID to the citizens and legal residents,” he was further quoted.
Emphasising the importance of the digital identity ecosystem, he said: “There is a strong relationship or corre- lation between Identification and Reforms, both are central in realising effective delivery of important government services to the people.”
With effective commencement of the mandatory usage on January 1, 2019, all persons must, according to Section 27 of the NIMC Act 2007, present their NIN for a number of transactions.