Payment for National e-ID card to begin in 2022, says NIMC

The National Identity Management Commission, says payment for
issuance of National Identity Card would begin in 2022.

NIMC Director General Mr Aliyu Aziz, said this at the lunch time
reform seminar on National Digital Identity Ecosystem Strategic
Road Map for enrollment of Nigerians and legal residents into
National Identity Database in Abuja on Thursday.

The event was organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms
in collaboration with NIMC.

Aziz urged Nigerians to make use of the opportunity to get
registered and have an identity.

He said the National e-ID Card can only be issued to Nigerians
registered into the national identity system and legal residents
who have attained the age of 16 years and above, unlike the
National Identification Number which is assignable to Nigerians
only.

“The National e-ID Card can only be issued to Nigerians
registered into the national identity system and legal residents
who have attained the age of 16 years and above. “But the National
Identification Number is assignable to Nigerians only,” Aziz
said.

The NIMC boss said the e-ID card can be used for identification,
payment and other applications in Nigeria.

According to him, the e-ID card will integrate existing identity
database into government institutions and enable everyone to also
receive a multipurpose ID card.

“As a government, we recognise the huge importance of moving
towards a digital government, therefore, we must embrace and
harness the potentials inherent in digital identity to build and
develop our country.

“Nations all over the world and in particular, developed
countries have utilised identity as the foundation to transforming
governance and enhancing service delivery in the areas of
healthcare, agriculture, voting, transportation, financial
inclusion, access to basic service and welfare programmes,” he
said.

Aziz assured Nigerians that no one would be denied government
services on account of not having the National Identity Number.

“The mandatory enrollment or collection of data by government
agencies or licensed agents, along with private sector
organisations to be licensed by NIMC under the digital identity
ecosystem means fast-tracking of the enrollment process in the
national identity system.

“We have a mandate to register all Nigerians and legal residents
or at least over 95 per cent of the population within the next
three years. It does not necessarily mean that NIMC must have
offices or enrollment centres in all nooks and crannies of the
country, especially given the current economic situation and
realities in our country.

“Instead, in its wisdom the Federal Government approved the new
digital identity ecosystem which ensures and mandates all
government agencies earlier mentioned and private sector
organisations to be licensed by NIMC, to collect citizens’ data
using guidelines issued by NIMC through secured approved channels
of communication and send such data to NIMC to generate NIN,” he
said.

Aziz enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the NIMC sites to
track their e-ID cards from any gadget especially smart phones,
tablets, laptops or computers.

“Open nimc.gov.ng tracking id center: https://touch.nimc.gov.ng/^[1]

“Push the proceed button, fill in your first name and last name
as well as your National Identification Number and click on the
check now button. Wait for seconds while it is loading and the
status of your NIMC card will appear on the display,” he said.

The NIMC boss said Nigerians can now use the USSD for NIN
retrieval, adding that the USSD service would enable them to
retrieve their NIN conveniently by using any type of mobile phone
as it is also available on all mobile networks in the country.

“Dial *346# from the options displayed, select NIN retrieval, by
typing in 1, if you are using the same phone number you enrolled
with for your NIN.

“Or select NIN Search, by typing in 2, to retrieve your NIN by
inputting some of your registered details (if you are not using the
same phone number you enrolled with follow the steps displayed on
your screen and provide the required inputs.

“Note that using this service attracts a N20 fee only deducted
from your phone credit balance,” he said.

Earlier in his open remarks, the Acting Director-General, BPSR
Mr Dasuki Arabi said the world is currently facing political,
economic, social and technological challenges.

Arabi, who was represented by BPSR Director of Communications,
Mr Inyang S Inyang, said the challenges have spurred government
institutions to undergo various reforms to cope, address and manage
change for improved performance on quality service delivery to
citizens.

“Nigeria, like any other country of the world has undertaken
various public sector reforms especially since the beginning of
democratic rule in 1999.

“Part of the public service reform is to move the public service
delivery standards to world-class, by refocusing public
institutions on the citizens and transforming the public service
into a value-based and well-performing institutions,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that NIMC had captured 34
million Nigerians in its database as at December 2018, the figure
comprised of both adults and children.

(NAN)