E-Business
Expert Explains Increased Dependence On Biometrics
An expert in the biometrics and fingerprints technology, has given explanations on the increased demand for biometrics and fingerprint requests from people on daily basis as witnessed in various homes, workplaces, bank transactions or while applying for certain government documents.
Greg Sarrail, Vice President, Solutions Business Development, Biometrics, HID Global, explained in an email to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, that while not all biometric systems are created equal, however, the relevance of fact harnessed from them play fundamental roles in the criminal justice systems across the globe.
Recall, while the Federal Government has ordered its agencies that have gathered biometrics from the citizens to harmonise same with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), some State Governments’ are warming up to commence same exercise, citing the need for relevant data for economic planning and fighting insecurity, as reasons for the projects that usually cost billions of naira to achieve.
Speaking on the differences between specific systems, their capabilities, the data they access and the data they share, he said, “Your fingers have never been more important – they can unlock doors, open phones and even secure your savings”.
Fingerprint scanners are considered the second most popular biometric devices by consumers around the world according to research undertaken by the 2016 Future Password Index.
This research was defined by how interested people were in using fingerprints to verify their identity when handling their devices, banking and other forms of security.
According to the Vice President, Solutions Business Development, Biometrics, HID Global, fingerprint biometrics saw a steady rise in popularity from 2014 to 2016 and remains one of the most trusted on the market today.
“It is a trend that isn’t going to change anytime soon and this is further underscored by the rise in fingerprint scanners, ATMs, devices and solutions. Your fingerprint has become a coded key that only you can wield.
“People are being asked for their fingerprints on a daily basis. When you go to work, transact at your bank, and when you apply for certain government documents. Some biometric solutions are not linked to a shared network, so you could transact at your bank or enter your office park with your unique identity, but this information will not be shared anywhere else. The data is captured and secured by each individual system to ensure absolute security and controlled access”.
He further expatiate on the difference between biometric verification and biometric identification, stressing that as their applications vary, as do their relevance to one’s security.
“When undertaking biometric identification, you are asking – ‘Who am I?’ Whereas with biometric verification you are asking – ‘Am I who I claim to be?’ For example, once your fingerprint has been submitted to a specific database, an identification application would compare it against a larger database of fingerprints that are associated with identities. If your fingerprint is found within that database, then the question of ‘Who am I?’ has been answered. This is biometric identification in a very simple nutshell” he said.
While advancing relevant agencies in Nigeria to be resolute in biometric verifications, Sarrail told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that when it comes to biometric verification and proving an identity, there is a need to add in some extra factors that can support the process and make it more secure.
“These can be account numbers, credit cards, or even smart devices. The system then pulls up the biometric data associated with your fingerprint and attempts to make a match.
“It’s important to note that the verification process doesn’t examine all fingerprint data for all users to find a match. Instead it checks to see if the fingerprint template that’s presented to the system is the same one that was originally enrolled, and it provides a quick answer.
“Biometric verification is very quick and is often used in commercial applications. It is private and efficient and often requires two-factor authentication – something you have or know plus your fingerprint that identifies who you are.
“Enrolling and verifying individuals using this process doesn’t demand huge processing power and is ideally suited to the growing trend in enterprise mobility. Users can simply store their own biometric data on their own devices for privacy, portability and convenience. Of the two types of biometric application, this is the simplest and most easily found on smaller devices and has recently grown in popularity within the consumer space.
“When you use your finger to access your phone, this is defined as biometric verification. The device uses your singular print stored in its database to confirm that you are who you claim to be, further backed up by passwords and PIN numbers.
“Biometric identification is more complex and requires a system that’s advanced and comprehensive. An example of this would be when you access your bank account using a biometric pad at the teller, or when you are applying for specific government papers and the system checks your fingerprint against a vast database of prints and identities.
“Biometric verification is the hurdle you jump to prove that you are who you say you are, biometric identification is when a system identifies you from within a vast database. Both systems are invaluable when it comes to protecting your identity and assets, but the latter demands a level of sophistication in technology to manage a significantly larger database and it is prohibitive for more basic devices and biometric systems.
“Whether you are about to use biometrics to identify or verify, your fingerprint remains your own proof of who you are. It is unique to you and you alone, and it is your highly personalised key to unlocking your world”, he explained.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
l-r: Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of NIMC, during the meeting at the NIMC headquarters in Abuja..
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
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