Nigeria’s Federal Government has transferred the operations of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
This was made known by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mallam Isa Ali Pantami, who in a statement signed by his sokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved for the transfer of the agency to his ministry.
Pantanmi said the decision of government was based on the President’s consideration for the critical role of NIMC towards the realisation of the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).
READ ALSO:
President Buhari assures of support for Multinational Joint Task Force
He noted that this was in line with the effort to ensure that synergy and effective ministry supervisory mechanism is put in place to coordinate, monitor and track the progress of Federal Government’s digital transformation initiatives.
The Minister noted that the President’s directives for NIMC to be under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is an illustration of Mr President’s vote of confidence on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, based on his performance adding that Pantami had within his first year in office, amongst others, resolved the ICT sector’s decade-long dilemma of Right of Way charges.
“He was also able to secure Mr President’s approval for the provision of security as well as designation of Telecommunications Infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, regularization of improperly registered SIM cards and deactivation of unregistered ones, the deployment of over 250 digital projects across the country under his policies and supervision as well as built the capacity of over 36,000 Nigerians,” she added.
Recalling NIMC’s mandates to create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identity Database established by the NIMC Act, 2007, Suleiman stated that the Commission has so far registered around 41 million eligible enrollees for the National Identity Number (NIN).
According to her, “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the other hand has details of over 191 million mobile subscribers. Furthermore, the National Information Technology Development Agency has recorded huge successes in the development and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), the country’s first codified data protection regulation. The Agency has also reached an advanced stage on the implementation of the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI). Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) also provides services to Government Agencies – Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.”
READ ALSO:
Lagos Helicopter Crash: AIB Recovers Black Box, Buhari, Sanwo-Olu Commiserate with Victims’ Families
Suleiman therefore emphasized the need for NIMC, NCC, NITDA and GBB to work closely together under the supervision of one Ministry towards harnessing what has already been achieved.
She said that the NIN, considered as a social security as well as civil number, is very important for economic planning and social intervention. With Federal Government’s digitalization initiatives in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, access to services and interventions will require it.
“We therefore urge all eligible individuals to enroll as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Honourable Minister is assuring Nigerians as well as residents that appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that opportunities for enrollment are provided to all.”
