NIN enrolment hits 107 million

…Nigerians to Pay for Proposed Multipurpose ID card

By: Michael Mike

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Friday disclosed that the National Identity Number (NIN) has reached 107.338,044, showing a growth of 3.2 million from the 104 million reported as at the end of last year.

The Commission also announced ongoing plans to introduce a general multipurpose NIN card for which Nigerians will be required to pay.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the Director General of the Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, equally disclosed that in addition to the surge in enrollment, the Commission is not resting on its oars as it would stop at nothing to ensure every Nigerian was registered.

She revealed that the commission is revamping its systems, implementing cutting-edge technologies to upgrade its outdated equipments, and cracking down on fraudsters and extortionists.

She said with the continuous expansion of enrollment centres across the country, the Commission would be in a position to record total registration of Nigerians.

Coker-Odusote noted that in the next six to eight months, the system which capacity presently stands at 100 million would be upgraded to 250 million.

She further mentioned that the Commission intends to review the prices for its services to improve service delivery to Nigerians, noting that the Commission would prosecute any staff members caught conniving with illegal actors.

She said: “All we are trying to do is to ensure that we provide a robust service for Nigerian citizens and legal residents. And to ensure that life is easy and seamless. One should not spend three to four hours in the NIMC office because of NIN services. It is something I will not allow to continue to happen. We will provide all necessary means to address the issue.

“We are clamping down extortioners parading themselves as NIMC staff. A lot of people have lost their money to extortioners.

“Any staff of NIMC that tries to work with illegal perpetrators will face disciplinary committee and be tried according to the Cybercrime Act 2015 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Same with any illegal perpetrators.

“We will make sure we create proper communication to gauge against extortioners.

“We are going to review our rate. It is not going to be much, but it will be reviewed. We have not reviewed our rate for a long time. It is not going to be exorbitant”.

She explained that Nigerians would have to pay a certain amount of money to access the new general multipurpose national identity card through financial institutions in the country, saying the card would allow them access to different digital services and enhance financial inclusion.

“Just like how you pay to access your ATM cards in the banks, Nigerians will pay through the banks to access their cards within 48 hours. We are partnering with Afrigo to ensure seamless delivery of cards to citizens after payment to get the digital multipurpose card,” She said.

She said applicants for the card will have to request with their NIN through a self-service online portal or the banks, insisting that NIN registration remains free for citizens of the country.

She further explained that NIMC is collaborating with the Students Loan Board, NYSC, and other government institutions responsible for palliatives distribution will soon start using NIMC identity database for services of government to ensure accountability and eliminate ghost beneficiaries.

She said states like Jigawa, Lagos, Kaduna, and Delta among others are currently acting as Front End Partners with NIMC for registration of their citizens in the national identity database and enjoined the media to support efforts of the Commission by raising awareness among the citizenry.

NIN enrolment hits 107 million

NHRC Promotes Legislation Banning Cultism in Schools

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for a strict legislation to ban cultism in the country’s institutions of learning.

The Commission apparently worried by spate of increased cultism in the nation’s tertiary institutions, said the legislation should be done is such a way that it will not affect the rights of student population in forming societies and organisations that promote human rights as well as intellectual curiosity and diversity.

The Commission’s position was expressed in Friday in Abuja by Mr. Hillary Ogbona,
the Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, while presenting the monthly human rights dashboard on human rights for the month of April.

He said the issue in focus in the month of April was cultism, saying that, over 20 cultism related deaths were recorded in three states of the Federation.

He noted that cultism, especially in higher institutions of learning has remained a long-standing menace in the country, pointing out that the secret society movements rooted in violence, intimidation, criminal behavior and other bizarre and illegal activities, not only pose grave threat to peace and security, but also pose a significant challenge to the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by affected communities.

He promised that the NHRC remains committed to addressing the issue with a firm commitment to protecting and promoting human rights.

He explained that: “The right to life and security which should be protected by the state faces significant threats in a society plagued by cultism. Cult-related violence leads to loss of innocent lives, shattered families and devastated communities as cultists operate with impunity.”

The dashboard showed that a total of 2011 killings was recorded in the month April, out of which, 82 are attributed to bandits alone, while 99 cases of kidnapping were recorded with North -West region leading with 74 in April and added that, 13 security and law enforcement agents were also killed in the month of April.

Ogbona called on government at all levels to rise up to their responsibility in protecting the lives and properties of the citizens of the country, saying that, “The cycle of violence perpetuated by cultism erodes trust and undermines the right to a secure and peaceful society.

“We also call on all security agencies to step up protection of human life in line with the provision of Section 4(2)(b) of the Constitution”, he said and that, relevant authorities should ensure that schools and streets are safe for the people.

Speaking earlier, the NHRC boss expressed the Commission’s commitment to making accessible, information on human rights and will continue to cooperate with government at all levels, civil society, media, international development partners towards the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

He said the dashboard will assist the government in keeping track of its obligations to national, regional and international human rights instruments and mechanisms.

He said: “We have been rendering this report to the National Assembly and the government of Nigeria on an annual basis and this document has been a reference no material accessible to all interested persons, authorities to gain insight on the status of human rights in Nigeria “.

NHRC Promotes Legislation Banning Cultism in Schools

Security: Parents in Damaturu Advised to Supervise their Wards

By Michael Mike

Parents and guardians in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital have been advised to improve supervision on the movements of their Children.

Some Elders in Damaturu gave the advice while speaking to journalists on Monday.

They said the increasing breach of security in Damaturu has been a major source of concern to many law abiding citizens especially in the recent past days.

They said they could not but raise their voices for quick arrest of the ugly situation.

Some of the elders who spoke to journalists, charged the parents to redouble efforts towards moulding the character of their Children.

According to them, the level at which criminal activities increase, need rapid response from concerned authorities, parents and all other Stakeholders.

It could be recalled that within the last few weeks, there were series of reports on cases of killings in Damaturu and environs.

Security: Parents in Damaturu Advised to Supervise their Wards