FRSC key to realisation of data harmonisation ―World Bank

The World Bank has identified the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a critical stakeholder in the country’s identity harmonisation project.

The bank’s Specialist on Digital Information for Development, Dr Vijay Madan, gave this indication when he visited the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Madan said the World Bank was concerned about the multiplicity of identity cards which different organisations issued to Nigerians for specific identity-related purposes.

He noted that if well harmonised, all identity-related activities currently are being carried out by different organisations in the country could be handled by a single organisation with “lead agency status to the project.”

According to him, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is empowered by its enabling Act to take the lead in this regard.

Madan noted that the FRSC, with its highly functional information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, had a critical role to play in the actualisation of the project.

The World Bank specialist lauded the FRSC for its huge investment in ICT, and called for synergy among all relevant agencies to achieve harmony and efficiency in the county’s identity management system.

He emphasised that data harmonisation would lead to optimal use of equipment and reduction in cost, in addition to providing a central data repository from which other agencies could tap.

The Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the FRSC was willing to share its expertise in biometric data capturing with other agencies.

Oyeyemi disclosed that the Corps was currently collaborating with NIMC on the harmonisation project as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve a cohesive national database.

He also disclosed plans by the Corps to organise a one-day workshop for representatives of relevant agencies for better understanding of its data gathering and management system.

This, he explained, was part of efforts by the FRSC to share its information on drivers’ license and number plates with the relevant stakeholders in the military and other security agencies.

Madan was accompanied on the visit by some senior officers of the World Bank in Nigeria.