Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
has called on all eligible Nigerians to register with the National
Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to obtain the national electronic
identity card.
The MD made this call
when he visited the commission’s Acting General Manager,
Operations/Regional Coordinator, North Central, Mrs. Florence Oloruntade, on Thursday in Abuja.
He
urged all eligible Nigerians to register without further delay to avail
themselves of the benefits available in obtaining the card.
He
noted that the importance of the card cannot be overemphasized as one
would hardly transact any government or other business these days
without such identification, adding that the card identifies one for
life.
While responding, Oloruntade
explained that the National Identity Number(NIN) is the most important
token issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria for citizens and legal
residents to assert their identities.
She
said Nigerians should note that the NIN, which is issued after
successful enrollment on a slip, is the foundational identity of the
holder stored on the National Identity Database.
“The
NIN can be verified and authenticated by institutions and persons in
both the public and private sectors, using the verification and
authentication platform already deployed by the Commission.
“The
NIN verification portal has been deployed for banks and other service
providers to take advantage for the purpose of ease of doing business,” she said.
She disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has also directed the banks accordingly on the database.
She
further advised Nigerians who have lost their NIN slip to visit the
nearest NIMC state office and request for a reprint, which will only
cost N500 deposit into the government’s coffer.
Oloruntade also said that Nigerians can make use of the Commission’s website to check the status of their National e-ID Card.
“What you have to do is to login to the web portal and follow the link.
“Click the proceed button, fill in your First Name, Last Name and the last 6-digits of your NIN.”
She
further disclosed that the NIMC is partnering with the Abuja Chamber of
Commerce and Industry to enroll all participants who will attend the
12th Abuja International Trade Fair, 2017, and issue them the National
Identification Number (NIN).
She,
therefore, urged participants and visitors who will be at the fair to
take advantage of the opportunity to enroll at the NIMC enrolment stand.
“Enroll for the NIN today, and be identified for life,” she added.