“Duly licensed organisations will be required to carry out the front end services of the Identity Ecosystem (data capture, authentication and verification services, etc.) and in compliance with the provisions set out in the Nigeria Biometrics Standard”.
According to report, the National Identity Management Commission, NICM will begin the enforcement of the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) by January 1, 2019 and the application of appropriate sanctions and penalties on defaulters as provided under Section 28 of the NIMC Act and Regulations. This is as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the immediate commencement of the implementation of a strategic roadmap for Digital Identity Ecosystem in Nigeria at its last meeting, held September 12th, 2018 and chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
The digital identity Ecosystem is a framework that leverages on the existing capabilities and infrastructure of distinct government agencies and private sector organisations to carry out enrolment of Nigerians and Legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB) as well as issuance of Digital identity, known as the National Identification Number (NIN) to give Nigeria a credible and robust identity management system.
Aliyu Aziz, NINC Director General explained that, the strategic roadmap for the Identity Ecosystem for Nigeria approved by FEC falls in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the country’s status in the global economy, towards achieving the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) launched in April 2017.
Aziz said, the ERGP is designed as an omnibus strategy for the government to meet the critical needs of the citizens in areas such as food security, energy, transport, human capital development, but more critically developing a local digital economy.
He expressed gratitude to President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as well as members of the FEC, National Assembly, the World Bank, the French development agency – AFD, the European Union/EIB and members of the Harmonisation Committee, including industry stakeholders whose expertise and contributions fostered harmonious discussion and created the platform for the development of the roadmap.
The NIMC CEO further explained that all agencies of government and the private sector who are directly or indirectly into the business of data capture and service provision requiring identification of persons should note that, “guidelines, processes, procedures for licensing public and private sector organisation will be published soon”.
Loveday Ogbonna, Head, Corporate Communications in a statement added that, “enforcement of the mandatory use of the NIN for services and transactions based on the Mandatory Use of the NIN Regulations 2017, will commence”.
According to the statement, “duly licensed organisations will be required to carry out the front end services of the Identity Ecosystem (data capture, authentication and verification services, etc.) and in compliance with the provisions set out in the Nigeria Biometrics Standard”.
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