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Chuks Udo Okonta
Nigerian children who were already captured and provided their National Identity Number(NIN), must re-register when they attain adulthood, says the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The commission said, the registration earlier done by these children in the early stages of their lives is invalid once they attain the age of 16, unless they visit NIMC to update their status.
Speaking at a 2-Day Roundtable With Publishers of Online Newspapers in Nigeria sponsored by NIMC and Nigeria Digital ID4D Project in Ikeja, Lagos recently, the head, Corporate Communications,NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed that, every Nigerian deserves to have NIN, and even a day old child can be captured but will need to update his or her registration at adulthood.
According to him, ” Every Nigerian deserves to have a NIN which is an identifier of that person whether old or young. Even a day old child could be captured but because the finger linings are still forming then, we will need to update the biometrics of such child at the age of 16 when the finger linings must have fully formed.”
Stressing that, though, not having a NIN isn’t a crime, but in future, those without NIN would not be allowed to perform certain services and enjoy privileges that they ordinarily should qualify for, urging Nigerians who are yet to register with NIMC to do so now, as tomorrow may be too late.
He disclosed that the commission is working round the clock to ensure that Nigerians have seamless registration process whenever they are ready to register.
Earlier, NIMC had assured Nigerians that the upgraded multipurpose National Identification Number (NIN) cards would be ready for collection from this month, July 2024.
The commission noted that, the new upgraded card, aside being a means of identity, could be used for banking services, voting, among others as the federal government embarked on move to harmonise identity systems in which NIMC is central to actualisation of this move.
The new securitised and identity card, it stressed, has about 18 security features, even as the card collection, this time around, would be on request at no charge.
Assuring that the new card has several defence mechanisms that will not allow criminals access to people’s data from criminal purpose, the director general/CEO, NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, noted that, Nigerians who already had their NIN are qualified to apply for the upgraded card through NIMC or partnering banks and other organisations.
Coker-Odusote, who was represented by the deputy director/Head of Strategy of the commission, Dr. Alvan Ikoku at the event, pointed out that, currently, sensitisation and engagement are ongoing so as to have a seamless process by the time the project roll-out next month.
