The federal government is committed to investing in the harmonisation of the country’s data through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said.
The minister, who said that his ministry was committed to the success of the programme, vowed that the era of multiple ID registrations would soon be over.
He made the promise while receiving the MTN management team led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karl Toriola, in Abuja on Monday.
He said NIMC has been mandated to harmonise the country’s database as President Ahmed Bola Tinubu seeks to enhance the country’s and security architecture.
Speaking on the significance of harmonising the country’s data, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the need for the country to have a tech-driven data-hub under the ministry.
He said: “We must have an interior hub. A massive data centre where we will have all our identity information documented.
“Data harmonisation is key. If we must succeed at the Ministry of Interior, success will start with NIMC. The integrity of our travel documents must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.
“This way, our people do not have to repeat data capture processes during the passport enrollment phase when they have a valid NIN.”
“When we harmonise our data, there will be an exchange amongst agencies such that when our people need data for passport or BVN, with their NIN, their data can be pulled out. This will not only save us stress, cost and energy but also help us optimise our processes.”
He added that information regarding issuance of driving license and Passports, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Numbers (NIN), Subscribers Identity Modules (SIM), and others should be harmonised into digital chips for the purpose of planning and executing government programmes for accelerated development.
He further argued that NIMC, as an agency under the ministry, has the potential to re-writing the narrative where the country only has a single point of data entry.
He said: “There is no need for us to have a BVN number, a voter’s number, a NIN, and a passport number all at once, and this is why we have to work with NIMC to ensure that we harmonise all these and do away with these duplications.
“If NIMC performs well, NIS will perform better, and the police, NSCDC, and other agencies will perform admirably above par.”
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