The Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital Identification for Development, Solomon Odole, has said that the project is addressing the inadequate infrastructure of the National Identity Management Commission alongside other issues with identity management.
He was represented by the Manager, Internal Communications at the Nigeria ID4D, Dr. Walter Duru, at the stakeholder engagement workshop for establishing inclusive enrolment and effective feedback mechanism in Abuja.
He said, “The project has made adequate provisions for financing institutional capacity development, aimed at building trust and credibility within the country’s ID ecosystem.
“Since it became effective in December 2021, Nigeria ID4D had sought to address the pervasive fragmentation of the Nigerian identification ecosystem, with no fewer than 13 public institutions providing some form of identification services; inadequate infrastructure of the National Identity Management Commission that poses a risk to the continuous enrolment of people, notably women, youth and persons living with disability.
“The project has also initiated steps towards strengthening the legal framework on identification and data in Nigeria. Addressing the legal and legislative framework is key at this time. Enactment of a data protection law and amendment of some other existing laws, such as the NIMC Act are important to our operations.”
He also noted that the project was committed to creating a robust foundational ID system for Nigeria that would involve NIMC and the Civil Registration system under the National Population Commission.
He added that the project had begun engagement with the NPC for areas of support, including digitizing the registration of births and deaths, capacity building and a review of their legal and institutional frameworks.
In February 2020, it was reported that the Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem project, along with five others, had been approved by the World Bank.
The approved projects, valued at $2.2bn, were aimed at assisting the country to empower citizens, especially marginalised groups, to access welfare-enhancing services.
The national digital identity ecosystem project was designed to enhance the national Identity system’s legal and technical safeguards to protect personal data and privacy.
Among the projects approved was the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project.
This project was to be financed through the World Bank’s International Development Association credit of $115m alongside co-financing of $100m from the French Agency for Development and $215m from the European Investment Bank.
Speaking at the stakeholder workshop, the World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist, Victoria Esquivel-Korsiak, stressed the essence of the project in ensuring an efficient identity database of all Nigerians.
The PUNCH recently reported that NIMC may get funding to replace its outdated infrastructure by early 2023 as its database nears full capacity.
