TheCable

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has unveiled a self-service mobile application for Nigerians to enroll for national identification number (NIN) and digital identification.

The application was unveiled in Abuja on Saturday at an event to commemorate Nigeria’s fifth Identity Day.

While unveiling the mobile application, Chucks Onyepunka, NIMC’s director for information technology, said the product would make NIN enrollment easier for Nigerians.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, who spoke earlier, said the harmonisation of all the country’s databases is key to curbing crime and spurring national development.

“With a database of over 100 million National Identification Numbers in the National Identity Database, NIDB, NIMC provided essential access to attaining this goal along with other major stakeholders,” the minister said.

“As a member of the ministry of interior family, NIMC joins with other sister agencies in not only improving access by the general public to services like passport acquisition and renewal but also the likes of efficient border security technology, effective handling of insecurity around the country, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, reformation and reintegration of rehabilitated offenders in the society as well as improved emergency and fire response times.”

The minister said work has commenced to ensure that the country has a single point database.

Speaking also, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC acting director-general (DG), said identity is more than a card or a number.

“It unlocks access to essential services, social benefits, and pathways to personal and economic growth,” Coker-Odusote said.

“It stands as a testament to our individuality while serving as a bridge to our shared humanity.

“At the National Identity Management Commission, our vision remains unwavering: to provide every citizen and legal resident with a digital primary identity, making it a universal reference point.”

She added that Nigeria must continue to develop its digital public infrastructure (DPI) because it holds the potential to transform lives.

The agency said the application would soon be available to be downloaded on Google and iOS stores.

In a recent investigation, TheCable revealed how many have been extorted by NIMC officials during NIN registration across the country.