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Tag: NIMC

  • NIMC moved to Interior Ministry to speed up passport issuance

    NIMC moved to Interior Ministry to speed up passport issuance

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has been moved to the Ministry of Interior.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that the action by the Federal Government was to fast-track passport issuance and National Identity Number (NIN) to Nigerians.

    NIMC’s  Head of Corporate Communications  Kayode Adegoke, confirmed the development. 

    “Yes, we have been moved,” he said, revealing also that the commission would launch a mobile app at the weekend to enable Nigerians to “make online requests for changes of dates of birth, or any updates regarding their personal information.” 

    NIMC  is  responsible for issuing NIN, while the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), an agency under the Interior Ministry,  issues international passport

    NIMC was prior to the latest development,  supervised by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. 

    The commission,  in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), collaborated for the linkage of NINs with the Subscribers’ Identity Modules (SIMs). The goal was to curb crimes, especially kidnapping,   banditry and terrorism.

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    Over 100 million Nigerians linked their NINs with their  SIMs within a period of three years.

    A top official of NIS revealed to The Nation yesterday that the backlog of  200,000 passports with the service was mainly due to delays in linking the NINs to the booklets of  passport applicants. 

    The NIS top shot added that the information at their disposal was that   NIMC  servers had broken down for about a  month now.

    Interior Minister Olubunmi. Tunji-Ojo had at a parley with NIS authorities on September 7 directed NIS clear the 200,000 passport backlogs within 14 days. He confirmed on Tuesday that  55, 000 of the backlogs had been cleared.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that the transfer of NIMC to the Interior Ministry was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all impediments to obtaining NINs and passports be removed without delay.

    A NIMC source said it was a known fact that the  Interior Ministry remained the traditional home of NIMC. He said that the problems associated with obtaining NINs would have been addressed long ago with technology if not  for bureaucracy “anchored on awards of contracts.”.

    NIMC’s Acting Director-General/Chief Executive Officer  Abisoye Coker-Odusote has warned NIN applicants against engaging third-party agents and offering bribes to NIMC officials.

    Coker-Odusote said in a statement yesterday that the commission was determined to maintain the security and credibility of the NIN system. 

    She said: “We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in our operations. All complaints should be sent to complaints@nimc.gov.ng “We encourage the public to report any unethical practices encountered during the NIN modification process.

    “We have a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the NIN modification process and to protect the rights of every Nigerian citizen.

    “Engaging third-party services or paying bribes compromises this process and is against the law.”

  • President appoints Bisoye-Coker NIMC boss

    President appoints Bisoye-Coker NIMC boss

    • Buba Yakub is DTAC’s DG

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Bisoye Coker-Odusote as the Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

    Coker-Odusote’s appointment will follow the terminal vacation of the office by the commission’s outgoing DG/CEO, Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, who has been asked to proceed on a 90-day retirement leave from August 24.

    A statement last night in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Yusuf Buba Yakub as the Director/CEO of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC).

    “President Bola Tinubu directs the commencement of 90-day pre-retirement leave for the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, with effect from August 24, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on November 24, 2023.

    “The President approves the appointment of Bisoye Coker-Odusote to serve as the Acting Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for a 90-day period, with effect from August 24, 2023, after which a full term of four years will begin as the substantive NIMC Director-General/CEO, beginning on November 24, 2023.

    “Furthermore, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Yusuf Buba Yakub to serve as the Director/CEO of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC).

    “This follows the recent expiration of tenure of the former DTAC Director/CEO, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi. This appointment takes immediate effect,” the statement said.

  • NIMC begins U.S. dispora enrolment today

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said it will begin the enrolment of Nigerians residing in the United States into its national data base today.

    The programme is currently going on in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    The National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment which will involve the demographic & biometrics data capture, is in collaboration with Thebez Global Resources Ltd, Defcon Systems Limitedand National eAuthentication Limited (NeAL), indigenous firms licensed by the NIMC to serve as its agents, and carry out enrolment services across the globe with a view to ensuring best-in-class services and inclusivity.

    NIMC Director-General/CEO, Aliyu Aziz said the extension is in line with NIMC’s mandate to ensure that all the citizens of Nigeria, those in the diaspora and legal residents  are enrolled into the National Identity Database (NIDB)and issued the unique NIN to applicants upon successful enrolment.

    “The programme will make it easier for Nigerians in Diaspora to be identified, as the Federal Government of Nigeria has made the possession of NIN a mandatory requirement for elections, bank account opening, land transactions, access to legal/health services, acquisition/renewal of the International passport, driver’s licence and the ECOWAS travel document, amongst others,” EAziz said.

    The programme is scheduled to go live from today  in Washington DC  at 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 160 Rockville, MD 20852. Other locations and commencement dates across the U.S today are: 1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 5050  (Level 5) Houston, Texas;  9894 Bissonet Street, Suite 745 Houston, Texas, TX 77036; 370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1505, New York, NY 10017, May 30, 2019; 336 West 37th Street Suit 500, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018; and 918 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 204 Roswell, Atlanta, Georgia, GA 30076. May 31, 2019.

     

     

     

  • NIMC begins registration of Nigerians in UK

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in partnership with one of its licensees, National eAuthentication Limited, at the weekend, in London, commenced issuing National Identification Numbers to Nigerians living in United Kingdom

    The event which took place at OIS office, Fleet Street, London, was flagged off by the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador George Oguntade.

    The high commissioner who was the first enrolee expressed delight that the Nigerian Digital Identity ecosystem is all inclusive and is catering for the interest of citizens living outside the country.

    Oguntade lauded the NIMC for carrying out the mandate given by the president with dispatch and dexterity. He thereby enjoined Nigerians in Diaspora to avail themselves of the opportunity

    Speaking earlier, the Director General and CEO of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, said the unique national identifier, popularly known as National Identification Number (NIN), will solve the identity challenges that the nation and indeed Nigerians are facing both at home and in the Diaspora.

    According to him, the federal government embarked on a reform agenda centred on institutionalising an identity management system for the country and provide a nationally accepted, easily verified identity number that citizens, residents and agencies can use to irrefutably affirm identities.

    Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora matters, Mrs Abike Dabiri, said with this new identity system, Nigerians in Diaspora can now start looking towards being able to vote after necessary laws must have been amended

    She charged them to take advantage of the opportunity and cooperate with the NIMC.

  • NIMC, NIS begin NIN enforcment on new e-passports

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have commenced the enforcement of the National Identification Number (NIN) on the new enhanced 10 years validity e-passport.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had, while unveiling the new enhanced e-passport with a-10-year validity, directed that the NIN which is issued by the NIMC be inserted as additional data in the new passports.

    A statement jointly endorsed by NIMC, Head, Corporate Communications, Loveday Ogbonna, and Public Relations Officer, NIS                                                     DCI Sunday James explained that this resolve to commence enforcement was agreed upon during a courtesy call by the Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede to the Director General NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz at the Commission’s headquarters.

    Aziz, in his address, said the Commission has upgraded its software and infrastructure to enable the generation of NIN in just micro seconds. This means that unlike in the past, the NIN is issued instantly to successfull enrollees into the National Identity Data Base (NIDB).

    “Few months ago, we had an issue that made NIN generation take up to hours and people had to come back the following day. However, right now it is instantaneous and that is the way we intend to maintain the system. The type of Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) we utilise makes sure that the NIN is unique –that is our only job,” Aziz said.

    Also speaking, Babandede commended NIMC for the upgrades which has resulted in instant and timely allocation of the NIN. He also reiterated the NIS willingness to accommodate NIMC in all its 44 diplomatic missions abroad and 42 locations in Nigeria to ensure that all Nigerians and legal residents are enrolled into the NIDB.

    “We are ready to provide space for you to operate in our locations to facilitate real time online, integration. If an immigration officer touches the computer, he should be able to connect to NIMC real time online, get the number, so that he can issue a passport,“ Babandede said.

    He also expressed optimism for the collaboration, as a test run carried out by the NIS with one thousand NIN samples to match with one thousand biometric visas yielded a success rate of 89.4 per cent which means it is good and that Nigerians are providing accurate information.

  • NIMC begins Diaspora enrolment in South Africa

    THE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is to begin enrolment of Nigerian adults and children in South Africa into the National Identity Database (NIDB) for the issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN).

    The enrolment in South Africa is in collaboration with its licensed partner, Messrs Thebez Global Resources Limited (TGR). The company is in the business of providing similar services in partnership with other similar companies in the Diaspora.

    TGR is working in collaboration with Cox & Kings Global Services Limited (CKGS), a premium outsourcing partner for government and businesses across the globe, to enrol Nigerians in Diaspora by setting up enrolment centres in different countries.

    CKGS’ comprehensive range of services include consular services, identity management solutions, document processing services and an extensive suite of technology-enabled business process accelerators.

    The South Africa NIN enrolment centre, located at 205 Rivonia Road, Morningside, Sandton, Johannesburg 2057, will open for enrolment from tomorrow and  appointments can be made via the TGR website, nin.thebezglobalresource.com as from  tomorrow.

    It is expected that other countries will come onboard on TGR ‘s platform after the South African pilot experience.

    NIMC Director General/CEO ,  Aliyu Aziz, said the Diaspora exercise is in a bid to ensure that Nigerians living outside the country are not left out.

    According to him, six Nigerian companies have been licensed to  work with their respective partners across  all countries in Africa, Asia, Europe  and America to carry out the enrolment of Nigerian adults and children in the Diaspora into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

    “They will be issued with the National Identification Number (NIN) upon enrolment and subsequently the General Multipurpose Card (GMPC),” he said.

    He also assured that requisite standard guidelines and regulations have been put in place to ensure the effective implementation of the National Identity Management Systems (NIMS) as well as provide the right platform for providing digital identity for Nigerians and legal residents as well as Nigerians in Diaspora.

  • ‘National e-ID card multi-purpose’

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), says that the national electronic identity card can be used for money transactions and other national benefits.

    Mr Loveday Ogbonna, Head, Corporate Communications, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ogbonna said that the National e-ID Card, which combines a proof of identity and access to financial services, would make it possible for Nigerians to receive a universally accepted identity card.

    According to him, it will enable Nigerians gain access to formal financial services.

    “The card at the point of collection if activated could be used for financial transaction around the world and even on any master card platform, verve and others.

    “ There is a provision in the system that enables you to load any amount of money you want into the card through ATM or POS.

    “The bank we are using now is UBA, other banks will still come on board and at the point of collecting the card, the payment outlet is activated to enable you use it for financial transaction.

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    “Money can be paid into that card and money can also be withdrawn on any ATM anywhere around the world.

    “ You can also make purchase online, subscribe for DSTV, POS payment, and check balance and others.

    “All you need do is to approach any UBA bank and request them to load the card with any amount of money that you want,’’ he said.

    Ogbonna also said that the commission was collaborating with other relevant agencies or organisations to have a central data collection point as directed by the Vice president.

    He noted that the integration of relevant agencies in the data collection would enhance proper documentation and reduce stress for the people.

    “The directive is to get all data collection agencies to integrate data so that one does not need to give his or her biometrics to different government organisations.

    “Every other government agencies is allowed to collect data and then send to the NIMC department for identity database.

    “But the agencies are also allowed to do their functional assignments, we are not stopping them.

    “What NIMC is established to do is foundational identity and that is to be done in collaboration with Nigerian Population Commission (NPC) and other agencies like CBN,’’ he said.(NAN)

  • NIMC registers 1.7 m in Kaduna

    The National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC ) has so far registered 1.7 million people in Kaduna State, the commission’s coordinator in the state, Abubakar Hassan, has said.

    Hassan who made this known in an interview our reporter on Friday in Kaduna said the figure was however far below the eight million residents eligible for registration.

    According to him, the commission has 62 enrollment centres across the state for the registration of all residents for the issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN).

    The coordinator attributed the low figure to poor turnout of eligible residents for the registration.

    He however disclosed that the commission had partnered the National orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitize the public on the importance of obtaining the National Identification Number, as part of measures to address the problem of low turnout.

    Read Also: NIMC Sokoto Govt. to enlighten indigenes on NIN

    ” With the recent collaboration we have with NOA in sensitizing people on the importance of enrolling into the National Identity Management System, we hope to see an increased turnout of people in our enrollment centres.

    “More centres are coming to ensure that all citizens and legal residents are registered,” he stated.

    Hassan who explained that the NIN was mandatory for all citizens and legal residents of the country, and implored those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible.

    He added that the slip given to those who were enrolled contains an Identification number which would enable the user to make any legal transaction.

  • NIMC, Sokoto Govt. to enlighten indigenes on NIN

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in collaboration with Sokoto State government, has planned to set up a committee to enlighten indigenes on need to enrol into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by Mr Loveday Ogbonna, Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC on Friday in Abuja.

    Ogbonna said that the Sokoto state Deputy Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, during the presentation of his National Electronic Identity Card expressed concern over the low enrolment figures of National Identification Number (NIN) in the state.

    He expressed the state government’s readiness to ensure that adequate enlightenment was carried out especially at the grassroots level on the need for every citizen to obtain his or her NIN.

    “The issuance of the NIN is a nationwide programme; the importance of the NIN to national planning and development cannot be over emphasized .

    “Hence, the people in Sokoto state will not be left out in the exercise,” he stated.

    Aliyu further appealed to the citizens to participate fully in the exercise and support government’s policies and programmes at all times, adding that the state government would contribute its quota toward the success of NIMC project.

    In his remarks, Mr Garba Balarabe, Sokoto state Coordinator, NIMC, appreciated the state government for its support toward ensuring the fulfilment of NIMC’s mandate.

    Balarabe expressed readiness to work alongside the committee in ensuring that the people were sensitised on NIN.

    The coordinator further said that more registration centres would be opened in the state to further take the exercise closer to the masses.

    He also said that children were not exempted from the NIN enrolment exercise. (NAN)

  • NIMC seeks N150b to enroll every Nigerian

    THE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said it requires N150 billion to enable it to enroll every Nigerian on the identity card programme in the next three years.

    Director-General of the commission Aliyu Abubakar made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday.

    Abubakar said the commission would need N50 billion annually for the next three years to be able to enroll everybody in the country on the identity project.

    “With this, we should be able to enroll everybody in the country,” he said.

    He said no fewer than 170 million people were estimated to be registered for the national identity in the country in the next three years.

    According to him, we have so far enrolled 31million persons and we will continue to partner relevant stakeholders so as to enroll everybody in the country in the projected period.

    The director-general said the commission had also been planning and working with international partners.

    He added that the commission and other agencies involved in biometric assembly had resolved to work together for the success of their respective assignments.

    “Lack of cooperation among different agencies capturing data is one of our challenges, but that has been resolved as we have now agreed to work together,” Abubakar said.

    He said the commission would partner the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enlighten people, especially at the grassroots, on the need for them to come out en masse and be enrolled.