After 10 years, Nigeria is set to launch a fresh set of national identity cards and as early as January next year, people may be required to line up for the new bio-data registration process. The National Identity Management Commission which is in charge of the scheme assured Nigerians that the new cards will be different from the ones issued between 2001 and 2006.
Sources at the commission told NEXT that the project involves the creation of a new identity database and goes beyond merely providing citizens and legal residents with an identity document as was done in the previous 2001 SAGEM project.
“The National Identity Management System is a quantum leap from the SAGEM project which was initiated in 2001 to provide an integrated card production facility.
This 2001 technology did not offer a unique identification number or a secure platform to assert one’s identity without a card. SAGEM produced cards, but not an identity system. This database is one of the three components of the emerging national identity management system, the other two being a secure identity document and a system for authenticating and verifying identity,” a source within the commission, who asked not to be named, said.
Anthony Okwujafor, the spokesperson for the Commission, confirmed that new ID cards will soon be rolled out. “The new ID card will have a unique number for every person and would be usable anywhere in the world,” he said.
A more secure system
The National Identity Management Commission said one of the benefits of the new arrangement is that it will provide a common database from which other government agencies and the private sector can find an authentic identification process.
“At this pace, NIMC is driving the prompt achievement of the presidential directive on the fast-track harmonisation and consolidation of biometric projects in government agencies. When completed, the national identity management system will ensure that every registered person has unique national identification number that will enable that person to assert his or her identity even in the absence of a card. The system will also ensure that its database is linked to those of key agencies such as the FRSC, immigration, while a verification service will enable third-parties (banks, employers, schools) to verify the identities of the persons they are transacting business with. The fibre optic link between the national identity data centre and the relevant government agencies has been commissioned by NIMC,” our source said.
Officials also disclosed that the commission has already begun test running the project using some specific government agencies and ministries.
“NIMC and its private sector partners have already completed the biometric registration of civil servants on behalf of the office of the Head of Service. This civil service database is fully integrated with the national identity database. The biometric harmonisation for government agencies is going well. The commission has also worked with INEC on the standards and specifications for the voters’ register so that it can meet the harmonisation requirements for the databases held by various government agencies.”
A cesspit
The idea of issuing national identification cards to Nigerians was mooted in 2001 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2003, large scale fraud was discovered in the project leading to the arraignment of three ministers. They were charged with corruption in connection with a $214m contract with SAGEM, a French firm, which was supposed to implement the project.
Those accused included former internal affairs minister Sunday Afolabi, Mohammed Shatta, a former minister of state in that ministry; and former labour minister Hussain Akwanga. Mr Afolabi died before the case was concluded and since then none of those charged have been prosecuted and the charges were subsequently dropped. The project went on and was executed haphazardly.
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