Dambazau Tasks NIMC on National ID Number

Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), Minister of Interior, retired has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to fast track the process of issuing all Nigerians with the National Identification Number (NIN).

The minister said this yesterday in Abuja when Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General of NIMC, led a delegation to present the minister with his national ID card.

He emphasized the need for NIMC to focus on the enrolment and issuance of NIN to all Nigerians rather than the actual production of the national ID card “which is very expensive”.

“The NIN is the most important thing, I want you to do everything possible to ensure‎ that all Nigerians get their number and not just on the production of the national ID card which is very expensive,” he said.

He‎ said that the Federal Government was working round the clock to link the NIMC database with all other government agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Earlier, Aliyu Abubakar, NIMC boss, said that the Commission was now focusing on the issuance of NIN‎ to Nigerians rather than the national I.D. card due to paucity of funds.

It will be recalled that Muhammad Babandede, NIS Comptroller-General,  recently said that from January, 2018, Nigerians without NIN will not be able to process their e-passport.