The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has urged the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to verify National Identity Numbers of passport applicants using other alternative channels.
This was stated while giving assurance of the commitment of NIMC towards ensuring that all Nigerians get the National Identification Number (NIN),
The NIS had said that its inability to meet up with the six weeks target for issuance of fresh passports and the three weeks target for re-issuance was due to the challenges created by the NIMC in providing NINs.
In response to this, the head, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Mr.Kayode Adegoke, in a statement, said in the past one year, the Commission has launched improved NIN slip with QR Code and MobileID app to ensure that alternative channels for identity verification were provided.
He said these new channels put personal identity back in the hands of the ID holder allowed for easier and quick verification by simply scanning the barcode.
Available Channels
According to him, all existing and prospective verification agents (all agencies of the Government and the private sector) are expected to utilize these available channels including the mobile web service (MWS) to verify the identities of their customers.
He noted that the recent reports of purported inability of NIS to verify NINs of passport applicants has shown that these alternative verification channels are not being utilized to serve their teeming customers.
NIMC said NIS should leverage on these channels and the jointly agreed offline method for handling NIN verification requests for passport applicants.
The statement reads: “The National Identity Management Commission wishes to restate its responsibility and commitment to offer identification services to the general public in accordance to the NIMC Act No 23 of 2007.
“The Commission has continued to enroll all Nigerians and Legal Residents for issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN), whilst providing authentication platform for the verification, validation and confirmation of the unique identity credentials issued.
“As part of ensuring excellent service provision and mitigating some challenges, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami recently secured the approval of the President, Muhammad Buhari,to upgrade the NIMC infrastructure and strengthen the capacity of the Commission to deliver on its mandate.
“In the past one year, NIMC launched improved NIN slip with QR Code and MobileID app to ensure that alternative channels for identity verification are provided. These new channels put personal identity back in the hands of the ID holder and allows for easier and quick verification by simply scanning the barcode. All existing and prospective verification agents (all agencies of the Government and the private sector) are expected to utilize these available channels including the mobile web service (MWS) to verify the identities of their customers.
“The recent reports of purported inability of Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to verify NINs of passport applicants has shown that these alternative verification channels are not being utilized to serve their teeming customers. It behooves on NIS to leverage these channels and the jointly agreed offline method for handling NIN verification requests for passport applicants.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that the improved NIS slip and mobile ID app are credible and reliable channels to carry out NIN verification services.
It says with focus on the digital economy policy of the Federal Government, the Commission will continue to offer innovative solutions for digital ID usage and seamless services to support identification for development.
Lateefah Ibrahim
