The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi has said that the Ministry will collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to develop a modern, robust, effective and technology-driven identity management architecture in Nigeria.
Mr. Abdullahi disclosed this when he gave his goodwill message at the National Identity Day organized by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Monday 16th September, at the International Conference Center Abuja.
According to the Minister, the international and national identity, is a day reserved by the United Nation to support legal identity for all humanity.
He further said that businesses and commerce, international and domestic travels, security management, health insurance etc, necessitate National Institutions such as NIMC to rise to the challenge of digital identification and management. This can only be done properly when NIMC leverages on technology and innovations in a fast-changing world, he added.
Mr. Abdullahi emphasized that, growing sophistication of terror groups, the innovative creativity of internet fraudsters, group identity agitations etc, require prompt, effective and harmonized of identity management in the country.
In his word,’’ 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’’.
Earlier, the Acting Chairman of the National Identity Management Commission Mallam Ibrahim Bello Gwandu (NIMC) said the choice of the National Identity Day is in recognition of Sustainable Development Goal which calls for legal identity for all including birth registration by 2030.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support and visionary leadership in advancing and improving the identity development project for the country.
