Nigeria’s “Identity” Crisis

Description:

The Federal Government has set a target of registering 100 million Nigerians in 30 months under the national identity card project.

The project has the full support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which states that very soon those without the national identity card may not be able to access bank loans.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, CBN governor said “the CBN will liaison with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with a view to enhancing the National Identity Card project”, and that “whenever the National Identity scheme takes off we will ensure that no new credit is extended to anybody unless the person has a national identity card”.

The NIMC is tasked with carrying out the registration of births and deaths in Nigeria; as well as creating managing, maintaining and operating the National Identity Database.

The project has not been without problems in the past. In 2003, the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi, and five others faced a 16-count charge in connection with the National Identity Card scam estimated at $214 million. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought the indictment against the suspects who were arrested and detained by the State Security Service in 2003.

To meet its target coverage of citizen registration exercise of 100 million in 30 months, the Federal Government is now seeking private investors to participate in the management of the national identity card project.

While awaiting the completion of the Nigerian National Identity Card project, some states are taking steps to address the issue at state level. For example, last year, the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, announced while presenting the 2010 budget that his administration will introduce a residents' identity card scheme. He explained that the scheme will increase the state government's capacity to plan the delivery of social amenities to the people.

The Nigerian National Identity Card project also appears to be closely linked to the mandatory SIM-card registration scheme which requires subscribers to produce their National Identity card as one of the forms of identification. The mandatory SIM Cards registration exercise has been put in place by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC).

According to the NCC, this scheme will deter those who use mobile phones for criminal activities, it should also reduce phone theft and deter even network providers who indulge in the practice of transferring inactive lines to other subscribers.

On the subject of identity, there has also been an announcement earlier this year that the Nigerian Immigration Service is to replace the current National Passport with an ECOWAS E-passport. Apparently, the current Nigerian International Passports will cease to be officially recognized by the end of this year.

With all this ongoing activity, a future in which a large majority of Nigerians hold genuine and robust IDs such as National Identity Cards, registered SIM Cards and the ECOWAS passports amongst the many forms of identification, is not inconceivable.