The federal government of Nigeria remains dedicated to investing in the harmonisation of the country’s data through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), according to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The minister emphasised that his ministry is fully committed to the success of the programme and assured that the era of multiple ID registrations will soon come to an end.
These statements were made during a meeting in Abuja on Monday, where the Minister received the management team of MTN, led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karl Toriola.
The Minister stated that NIMC has been given the mandate to harmonise the nation’s database as President Ahmed Bola Tinubu aims to enhance the country’s security architecture.
Importance of Data Harmonisation
Highlighting the significance of harmonising the country’s data, Tunji-Ojo stressed the need for a tech-driven data hub under the Ministry of Interior.
He stated, “We must establish an interior hub – a massive data centre where we can document all our identity information.”
“Data harmonisation is key. If we want to succeed at the Ministry of Interior, it starts with NIMC. The integrity of our travel documents must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.”
He continued, “This way, our citizens will not have to repeat the data capture process during passport enrolment if they have a valid NIN.”
“When we harmonise our data, agencies can exchange information. This means that when our citizens need data for a passport or BVN, their data can be retrieved using their NIN. Not only will this save time, money, and effort, but it will also help us streamline our processes.”
Long-Term Goals
Tunji-Ojo further expressed the need to harmonise various types of information into digital chips in order to plan and execute government programmes for accelerated development. These include issuance of driving licenses, passports, Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), National Identity Numbers (NIN), and Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM).
He stressed that NIMC, as an agency under the Ministry, has the potential to transform the current system where the country has multiple points of data entry.
“There is no need for us to have separate BVN numbers, voter’s numbers, NINs, and passport numbers. We have to work with NIMC to ensure that we harmonise all these and eliminate duplications,” he explained.
He also mentioned that improved performance by NIMC would have a positive impact on other agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“If NIMC performs well, NIS will perform better, and the police, NSCDC, and other agencies will perform admirably above average,” Tunji-Ojo concluded.
