The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity
authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the
banking sector.

Onyemenam,
who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying
genuine social welfare needs.

“ We
would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity
authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking
sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it
down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.

“And of
course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various
other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis
of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans
and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I
want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to
deal with them,” he said.

Onyemenam
acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm
shift.

“In
terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is
not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible
and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government
done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently
we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the
difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.

“The
concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession
and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking
sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking
at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure
that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make
this happen,’’ he said.

The
director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the
project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance
of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36
enrolment centres.

“The
first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two
major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The
director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing
compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.

“I can
confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had
to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.

“Each
time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very
thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.

Onyemenam
who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said
however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.

“That’s
the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you
that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’

Onyemenam
said government investment in the project would be recouped through the
sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.

“The
sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government
will recoup the investment that it is making over time.

“And
once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely,
so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’
he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.

National ID System To Check Corruption
NEWS
The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),  Mr Chris Onyemenam,  said in Abuja yesterday that the new identity authentication and verification exercise would curtail fraud, especially in the banking sector.
Onyemenam, who made the statement when he featured at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the system would also address challenges of identifying genuine social welfare needs.
“ We would have instituted the various service schemes in particular, identity authentication and verification which, in our opinion as far as the banking sector is concerned, would help to mitigate the incidence of fraud and bring it down to as low as 10 per cent, if not completely eliminating it.
“And of course, we can then say to ourselves we can help NAPEP, we can help various other social welfare programmes because we have the data base. And on the basis of the data base, it can then become possible to make deliberate policy plans and implement them along those lines, because it is easier for you to say I want to deal with this category of citizens, and you will have the basis to deal with them,” he said.
Onyemenam acknowledged Federal Government’s support to the commission in the paradigm shift.
“In terms of the cost, I think the best thing to do is to say that look, this is not going to come cheap, however, we are being as extremely prudent as possible and government is mindful to ensure sustainability. “And what has government done? There is private sector participation, there is concession and currently we are looking at the concession to see how this can be reworked so that the difficulties in implementing that concession could be addressed.
“The concession was put in place just about the time the world experienced recession and soon after that, we began to experience various reforms in the banking sector, so access to credit has been a difficult issue. And so, we are looking at reviewing it. But more importantly, government took certain steps to ensure that private sector can take investment decisions that are necessary to make this happen,’’ he said.
The director-general also attested to increased private sector participation in the project, as well as government increased funding, through approval of issuance of 50 million cards at no cost to beneficiaries, and payment for the first 36 enrolment centres.
“The first 36 enrolment centres have been paid for by government, now these are two major cost items that have been taken care of by government,’’ Onyemenam said.

The director-general pointed out that the current government investment was nothing compared to the investment in the failed identity card project.
“I can confirm to you that government is being extremely prudent with this. I have had to present and represent to cabinet committees, to Mr President-in-Council.
“Each time I come for approval from government, I have had to go through very thorough process, I am examined and re-examined.
Onyemenam who did not state the amount that has been spent on the project so far, said however, that government approvals had been consistent since March, 2006.
“That’s the beauty of the uniqueness of this project. So I will not want to say to you that this project has cost us so far X amount, or that it will cost Y amount.’’
Onyemenam said government investment in the project would be recouped through the sustainability arrangement put in place for the success of the system.
“The sustainability arrangement built around the project is such that government will recoup the investment that it is making over time.
“And once that guarantee is there, I think what we need is to be prudent and timely, so that revenue recoup and recapture can begin to happen sooner than later,’’ he added.