NIN-SIM Linkage Will Cover Our Security Structure, Identify Crooks — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to
participate in the ongoing synchronization of National
Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards across the country, as
it will provide a digital framework for improving security and
strengthening the economy.

The President stated this at the launch of the National Policy
for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in Nigerian Telecoms Sector
and Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Cards registration in
Abuja.

He said “The NIN will cover one of the weaknesses in our
security structure. We will be able to easily identify and know the
personality of Nigerians. We will identify people easily, including
the crooks.’’

President Buhari noted that proper identification of all
Nigerians and legal residents in the country and the ability to
conveniently access a database will provide an impetus for more
effective planning and security oversight.

“The launch of the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for
SIM Card Registration was quite timely and will support efforts to
enhance security and develop the economy.

“The National Identification Number is the foundational digital
ID for the country; both Nigerian citizens and legal residents are
expected to obtain the NIN. It will provide access to government
services and will give government useful insights that will enable
us to utilize scarce resources in a more efficient way,’’ he
added.

According to him, the first National SIM Policy was launched in
February 2020, and the revised policies were in full alignment with
the objectives of the administration in the areas of economic
development, security, and anti-corruption.

“The Digital Economy sector has made significant progress and
recorded a number of unprecedented achievements since we expanded
the mandate of the Ministry of Communications to include the
digital economy mandate.

“The Information and Communications Technology sector was the
fastest growing sector in both the fourth quarter of 2020 and the
entire year 2020, based on the Report by the National Bureau of
Statistics.

“The sector’s 14.70 percent double-digit growth rate played a
principal role in supporting our country to exit the recession
triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth rate of the sector
exceeded four times the next fastest-growing sector of Q4 2020, the
ICT Sector which had a growth rate of 3.42 percent. This is truly
commendable,’’ the President added.

President Buhari said the digital economy sector provided online
options for activities that were hitherto restricted to offline
channels while minimizing the disruption to activities of both
public and private sectors and reducing the cost of meetings.

He added that the National Policy for Indigenous Content in the
Nigerian Telecommunications Sector was in line with the
administration’s commitment towards ensuring that Nigerians become
active participants in the different sectors of the economy,
including the telecommunications sector.

“The Federal Government embraced institutionalizing online
meetings through the approval of the National Policy on Virtual
Engagements in Federal Public Institutions. As a result of this, we
now have virtual Federal Executive Council, virtual Council of
State and virtual National Economic Council meetings, among others,
even though this development was triggered by COVID-19,’’ he
said.

“As a country, our desire to produce what we eat, and consume
what we produce is not limited to the literal meaning; rather we
want to work towards being self-sufficient in every sector of the
economy. For the telecom sector, we want Nigerians to play a major
role in the design and manufacture of devices, in meeting the
manpower requirements and in becoming an active part of the
telecommunications ecosystem of the country.

“The policy aims to achieve this and I have earlier directed the
Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa
Ali Pantami, to develop the structure for its implementation and
forward this to the Nigerian Communications Commission to
implement. We are confident that the execution of the Policy will
further enhance our economy and lead to the creation of jobs,’’ the
President noted.

President Buhari said there had been many futile attempts to
promote the use of digital identity in the past: “Previous attempts
have been unsuccessful due to a number of reasons, including
sabotage. Our focused approach shows that this administration is
dedicated to ensuring that we derive the benefits of a secure and
robust digital identity system.’’

He assured that his administration was fully committed to the
safety of Nigerians and linking the SIM to NIN will significantly
enhance security, aid in national planning and budget
preparations.

In his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy appreciated the President for the continuous support to the
telecoms sector, including regulators and operators, thanking him
for the keen interest in ensuring that the security sector gets a
boost with more information on Nigerians and legal residents.

The minister noted that the NIN Registration had recorded a huge
success with 54 million Nigerians already captured in the process,
adding, “within six months over 12 million enrolled.’’

Dr Pantami said it was now possible to have virtual ID cards
that can be used in various transactions, assuring that the NIN and
Sim card registration for Nigerians and legal residents will cover
99.9 percent.

He said the buoyancy of the telecoms sector had given Nigeria
many leadership roles in international organisations, listing the
impact on education, training, health, and welfare of many,
including the establishment of 600 computer centres, and a world
class sim card manufacturing company in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to
participate in the ongoing synchronization of National
Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards across the country, as
it will provide a digital framework for improving security and
strengthening the economy.

The President stated this at the launch of the National Policy
for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in Nigerian Telecoms Sector
and Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Cards registration in
Abuja.

He said “The NIN will cover one of the weaknesses in our
security structure. We will be able to easily identify and know the
personality of Nigerians. We will identify people easily, including
the crooks.’’

President Buhari noted that proper identification of all
Nigerians and legal residents in the country and the ability to
conveniently access a database will provide an impetus for more
effective planning and security oversight.

“The launch of the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for
SIM Card Registration was quite timely and will support efforts to
enhance security and develop the economy.

“The National Identification Number is the foundational digital
ID for the country; both Nigerian citizens and legal residents are
expected to obtain the NIN. It will provide access to government
services and will give government useful insights that will enable
us to utilize scarce resources in a more efficient way,’’ he
added.

According to him, the first National SIM Policy was launched in
February 2020, and the revised policies were in full alignment with
the objectives of the administration in the areas of economic
development, security, and anti-corruption.

“The Digital Economy sector has made significant progress and
recorded a number of unprecedented achievements since we expanded
the mandate of the Ministry of Communications to include the
digital economy mandate.

“The Information and Communications Technology sector was the
fastest growing sector in both the fourth quarter of 2020 and the
entire year 2020, based on the Report by the National Bureau of
Statistics.

“The sector’s 14.70 percent double-digit growth rate played a
principal role in supporting our country to exit the recession
triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth rate of the sector
exceeded four times the next fastest-growing sector of Q4 2020, the
ICT Sector which had a growth rate of 3.42 percent. This is truly
commendable,’’ the President added.

President Buhari said the digital economy sector provided online
options for activities that were hitherto restricted to offline
channels while minimizing the disruption to activities of both
public and private sectors and reducing the cost of meetings.

He added that the National Policy for Indigenous Content in the
Nigerian Telecommunications Sector was in line with the
administration’s commitment towards ensuring that Nigerians become
active participants in the different sectors of the economy,
including the telecommunications sector.

“The Federal Government embraced institutionalizing online
meetings through the approval of the National Policy on Virtual
Engagements in Federal Public Institutions. As a result of this, we
now have virtual Federal Executive Council, virtual Council of
State and virtual National Economic Council meetings, among others,
even though this development was triggered by COVID-19,’’ he
said.

“As a country, our desire to produce what we eat, and consume
what we produce is not limited to the literal meaning; rather we
want to work towards being self-sufficient in every sector of the
economy. For the telecom sector, we want Nigerians to play a major
role in the design and manufacture of devices, in meeting the
manpower requirements and in becoming an active part of the
telecommunications ecosystem of the country.

“The policy aims to achieve this and I have earlier directed the
Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa
Ali Pantami, to develop the structure for its implementation and
forward this to the Nigerian Communications Commission to
implement. We are confident that the execution of the Policy will
further enhance our economy and lead to the creation of jobs,’’ the
President noted.

President Buhari said there had been many futile attempts to
promote the use of digital identity in the past: “Previous attempts
have been unsuccessful due to a number of reasons, including
sabotage. Our focused approach shows that this administration is
dedicated to ensuring that we derive the benefits of a secure and
robust digital identity system.’’

He assured that his administration was fully committed to the
safety of Nigerians and linking the SIM to NIN will significantly
enhance security, aid in national planning and budget
preparations.

In his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy appreciated the President for the continuous support to the
telecoms sector, including regulators and operators, thanking him
for the keen interest in ensuring that the security sector gets a
boost with more information on Nigerians and legal residents.

The minister noted that the NIN Registration had recorded a huge
success with 54 million Nigerians already captured in the process,
adding, “within six months over 12 million enrolled.’’

Dr Pantami said it was now possible to have virtual ID cards
that can be used in various transactions, assuring that the NIN and
Sim card registration for Nigerians and legal residents will cover
99.9 percent.

He said the buoyancy of the telecoms sector had given Nigeria
many leadership roles in international organisations, listing the
impact on education, training, health, and welfare of many,
including the establishment of 600 computer centres, and a world
class sim card manufacturing company in the country.