FG, NIMC collaborate to develop modern, technology-driven nation’s identity management architecture

MINISTER of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, on Monday, said that the ministry would collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to develop a modern, robust, effective and technology-driven identity management architecture in Nigeria.

He made this known in his goodwill message at the National Identity Day organised by the NIMC in Abuja.

Barrister Abdullahi explained that the international and national identity was a day reserved by the United Nation to support legal identity for all humanity.

The minister said businesses and commerce, international and domestic travels, security management and health insurance necessitated National institutions such as NIMC to rise to the challenge of digital identification and management.

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This, according to him, can only be done properly when NIMC leverages on technology and innovations in a fast-changing world.

Barrister Abdullahi said growing sophistication of terror groups, the innovative creativity of internet fraudsters and group identity agitations among others require prompt, effective and harmonised of identity management in Nigeria.

“NIMC should move beyond photo and biometric data capture in support of Nigerian Immigration Service and financial institutions, it ought to, and should be a one-step shop in forensic analysis of data and should interface with Nigerian Biotechnology Agency to develop DNA replication and encoding laboratories to support security agencies in detection, arrest and prosecution of criminals in the country,” he added.

Earlier, the acting Chairman of NIMC, Mallam Ibrahim Bello Gwandu said the choice of the National Identity Day was in recognition of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which called for a legal identity for all including birth registration by 2030.

He, therefore, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support and visionary leadership in advancing and improving the identity development project for Nigeria.