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NIN Has Lots Of Benefits, NIMC Tells Nigerians
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has expressed satisfaction at the compliance of Nigerians towards the National Identification Number (NIN) registration.
The Managing Director of the NIMC, Mr Aliyu Aziz, made the observation in an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
According to him, the NIN is fast gaining acceptance by Nigerians and institutions and has a lot of benefits.
Aziz explained that NIN was a set of 11 non- intelligent numbers randomly chosen and assigned to an individual at the completion of enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB).
“The NIN is used to tie all records about an individual in the database and is also used to establish or verify an individual’s identity.
“According to section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act, 2007, transactions including, applications for and issuance of an International Passport; opening of individual and/or group bank accounts, all consumer credits; purchase of insurance policies.
“The purchase, transfer and registration of land by any individual; National Health Insurance Scheme, such transactions that have social security implications, registration of voters, payment of taxes, and pensions, will be done with the NIN,” he said.
He added that government agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Hajj Commission, have adopted the mandatory use of NIN.
“It is a requirement for renewal and issuance of a passport, driver’s license and all bank transactions,” he added.
According to Aziz, NIN possesses numerous benefits, which is a gateway to economic growth and viability, taxation and revenue generation process.
He said that NIN would make it easier to track, prove one’s identity within the National Identity Management System (NIMS).
He said consumer credit system would also be easily accessible with the NIN, adding that many Nigerians that have been shortchanged due to unverifiable identity would now have access to credit.
Aziz said that access to social benefits such as Health care, Education, Employment would require the NIN.
“This would now enable the Government track its population ratio to the facilities available, make upgrades and changes where necessary, it would aid in proper planning.
“With the current security challenges in the country, identity management is critical; the National Identity Database will be easily accessible by security agencies, making it easy to track criminals.
“It will also prevent the use of ghost and multiple identities,” he said
Aziz said that the NIN would create a pathway for credible elections accepted by Nigerians, the issues plaguing the electoral process such as underage voting, multiple voting, alien voting, would be curtailed with the use of NIN.
He, however, said that enrolment for the NIN was a continuous process adding that it was pertinent for all Nigerians and legal residents to ensure they get enrolled.
“As stakeholders, it is our duty to work towards achieving success of the National Identity Management System for National growth and development,” he said.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.