The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the mobile networks Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card biometric registration process, which covers all existing telecommunication subscribers with verifiable database, linked to National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will add to the ease of doing business in the country, as a result of sustainable trackable digital identity.
Tony Ojobo, Public Affairs Director at NCC, said this during his presentation at the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) annual conference of Directors and Heads of Public Relations, held in Lagos Yesterday.
The identity management program was Established by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act No 23 of 2007, with the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a unique National Identification Number and issue general multi-purpose cards to those registered individuals, and to harmonise and integrate existing identification databases.
This provides a vehicle for easy identification of citizens in order to facilitate better government planning, curb identity theft and fraud, and ensure that every individual is accounted for and given their necessary entitlements based on their genuine identity, as well as various other economic benefits.
Experts have said over time, that this database can be substancially verified and enhanced by other critical databases, such as from the SIM card registration, which allow for the capture of communication and other expenditure on or from mobile phones, as well as tracking geographical location .
According to Ojobo; “the full biometric registration, with fingerprints and digital photographs of the registrants taken at the point of SIM card registration, has made the SIM card registration become the most reliable data base of Nigerian citizens, given the large number of subscribers in the country, which stood at 143million as at June 2017.”
The data collected by the NCC will therefore facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria, as it has created a trackable identity for every registered individual and in turn, contributes to the ease of doing business, by significantly reducing criminal activities because the vast majority of Nigerians are documented, identifiable and trackable.
“SIM card registration and location services on mobile phones have enabled security agencies to be able to track and tackle kidnappers and other criminals. This has increased the level of trust that the international community has to do business in and with Nigerians. The NCC is partnering with NIMC; we have about 130million subscribers whose records have been captured, but of course, in capturing the data, we also need to verify the data. Quite a number have been verified and others are still being verified in collaboration with the telecommunications networks and service providers.”
In Nigeria today, the Nigerian International Passport, Bank Verification, Driving License, Permanent Voters Card, SIM card registration, National Health Insurance Scheme, Federal Inland Revenue, DNA Forensic lab from Lagos Residents Registration Agency, LASRA are yet to be fully harmonised with a central data registry for all citizens.
Hygenus Omeje, Sector Commander, Lagos State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who also spoke at the conference said; that the FRSC has successfully developed a credible database of all Nigerians who drive with the new drivers licenses which capture the identity individuals with 10 finger biometrics, Iris capture and signature.
“Ever since we upgraded the National driver’s license in Nigeria, our licenses can now be used to drive internationally, with the data embedded in it. All we need now, is to get all these things fully harmonised, so that we can stop all the multiplicity of data bases in Nigeria. If we do this up to the BVN and other agency levels, it will be almost impossible for any individual to beat the entire network when a background check is being done to track activities,” Omeje said.
Apart from the quest to warehouse the profile of all Nigerians for effective national planning, the need for synergy with other data management organisations in virtually all sectors of the economy is of utmost importance, as this would make it easier for government to plan and channel adequate attention to areas such as education, pensions, jobs and others, analysts say.
Jumoke Akiyode Lawanson
