TheCable

The federal government has moved the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the ministry of interior.

The NIMC was formerly under the ministry of communications, innovation and digital economy.

The commission has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the national identity database in Nigeria, register persons covered by NIMC act No. 23 of 2007, assign a unique national identification number (NIN) and issue general multi-purpose Cards (GMPC) to those who are citizens of Nigeria as well as others legally residing within the country.

Alao Babatunde, spokesperson to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, confirmed the development to TheCable on Thursday.

“I can confirm the NIMC is now domiciled in the ministry of interior,” Alao said.

“The minister announced it during a meeting with the past comptroller-general of immigration on Tuesday.”

He added that the NIMC was moved to the interior ministry to ensure maximum security for all.

He said with the integration, all agencies involved in identity data gathering and management, as well as the security of lives, would be able to function optimally and seamlessly.

“The benefit– when we say internal security, how do you secure people you don’t have their database?” he asked.

“It is to have the database of the people you want to secure. That helps all agencies involved with better coordination and to  function better.”