National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Galaxy National Operating Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, among others.

In a press statement issued by the NIMC at a brief signing ceremony during which the Agreement for the Contract was signed by both the NIMC and GBP, the contract, which includes the deployment of a nation-wide private network connectivity and internet access, will also enable the NIMC to interconnect all its State Offices, Head Office and the proposed permanent Identity Registration Centres (IRCs) in the 36 States and the FCT.

The access and network connectivity will support the automation and electronic processing of personal data and biometrics that would be captured at the IRCs nationwide, a move the NIMC said will completely eliminate the ‘human error’ that characterized pervious efforts, in particular the 2003 mass registration exercise. The IRCs, the statement added, when fully operational, will open for business like any other normal office, thus eliminating the need to set aside specific days for registration exercise forever.

Sources close to the NIMC confirmed that it has almost concluded plans to engage the services of a Systems Integration firm to enable it expand the Identity Database infrastructure as well as create a business continuity and disaster recovery site in order to ensure that when revalidation of enrollments and fresh registration of citizens commence, the over 120million expected enrollments would immediately be available for use by both the private and public sector institutions.

Several services are said to become possible once access to the database, which will also include secure web-based citizen verification services, is achieved. In particular the usual photocopying of identification documents at banks and universities will become a thing of the past.

When asked if the NIMC could explain the recent rush to collect individual data and biometrics of citizens for specific services by some private sector operators, a member of the Commission’s Technical team on Corporate Communication Mr. Chuba Keshi, noted that the Commission is aware of this and that very soon it will issue guidelines for the conduct of certain business practices in the emerging identity sector to curb the incessant and unauthorized collection of biometrics of citizens under various disguises.

He stated that only the NIMC has the statutory responsibility to maintain a national identity database and is empowered to set the standards for the orderly development of the identity sector in Nigeria. He said the NIMC will live up to its responsibilities in this regard by adopting what it termed ‘growth and development enabling’ regulatory measures that will facilitate and enhance the protection of individual privacy.

Mr. Keshi further stated that the plan to develop modern purpose built IRCs in partnership with the private sector had reached an advanced stage preparatory to roll out.

Corporate Communications Unit, NIMC