FG Reiterates Commitment to Data Harmonisation

The federal government is committed to investing in the harmonisation of the country’s data through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said.

The minister who said his ministry was committed to success of the programme, vowed that the era of multiple ID registrations would soon be over.

He gave the promise while receiving the MTN management team led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karl Toriola in Abuja, yesterday.

He said the NIMC had been mandated to harmonise the country’s database as President Ahmed Bola Tinubu seeks to enhance the country’s Identity and security architecture.

Speaking on the significance of harmonising the country’s data, Tunji-Ojo, emphasised the need for the country to have a tech-driven data-hub under the ministry.

He said: “We must have an interior hub. A massive data centre where we will have all our identity information documented.

“Data harmonisation is key. If we must succeed at the Ministry of Interior, the success will start with NIMC. The integrity of our travel document must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.

“This way, our people do not have to repeat data capture processes during the passport enrolment phase when they have a valid NIN.”

The Minister further explained that data harmonisation would drastically cut down on stress for the people as well as overhead cost on the part of the government.

He said: “When we harmonise our data, there will be an exchange amongst agencies such that when our people need data for passport or BVN, with their NIN, their data can be pulled out. This will not only save us stress, cost and energy but also help us optimise our processes.”

He added that information regarding issuance of driving licence and Passports, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Numbers (NIN), Subscribers Identity Modules (SIM), and others should be harmonised into digital chips for the purpose of planning and execution of government programmes for accelerated development.

He further argued that NIMC, as an agency under the ministry, has the potential of re-writing the narrative where the country only has a single point of data entry.

He said: “There is no need for us to have a BVN number, a voter’s number, a NIN, and a passport number all at once, and this is why we have to work with NIMC to ensure that we harmonise all these and do away with these duplications.

“If NIMC performs well, NIS will perform better, and the police, NSCDC, and other agencies will perform admirably above par.”

The Minister also elaborated on the role of private sector players, such as MTN, in achieving the vision towards the harmonisation of data, saying: “And, to do that, there must be a way to inject private partnerships to help us achieve our objectives.

“For us, we are open to partnerships from private sector players, as NIMC may not have the full financial capacity to fulfil the ambition.”