The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz has rolled out why it was important to launch the new digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria.
The DG, while making a presentation in Abuja at the January, 2019 lunch time reform seminar organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), explained that the new digital identity ecosystem facilitates the collection of citizens’ biometric data nationwide within the shortest time possible.
“The purpose of the ecosystem is to leverage existing capabilities and enrolment facilities of government agencies, partners and private sector organisations in Nigeria, as opposed to building new ones,” he explained.
According to Aziz, the approach involves coordinated efforts of all enrolment 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,” Engr. Aziz 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).”
The new Digital Identity Ecosystem is a Federal Government-led initiative to collect biometric data nationwide in one-go by leveraging existing ecosystem of all government agencies including Federal, State and LGAs and the Private sector.
With the effective commencement, on January 1, 2019, of the mandatory usage of the NIN, all persons must, according to Section 27 of the NIMC Act 2007, present their NIN for the following transactions:
- Application for, and issuance of a passport;
- opening of individual and or personal bank accounts
- purchase of insurance policies
- subject to the provisions of the Land Use Act, the purchase, transfer and registration of land by any individual or any transaction connected therewith
- such transactions pertaining to individuals as may be prescribed and regulated by the Pension Reform Act, 2004
- such transactions specified under the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme
- such transactions that have social security implications
- all consumer credit transactions
- Registration of voters
- Payment of taxes
- such relevant government services; and
- all other transactions which the Commission may so prescribe and list in the Federal Government Gazette.