The Subscribers Identification Modules (SIM) cards, which gulped about N6.1 billion from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) purse and about N30 billion from the Mobile Network Operators in the last six years is also listed for hamonisation.
Confirming the readiness of the Federal Government to hamonise the various biometric data at a post-event interview with The Guardian, the Senior Special Adviser on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Lanre Osibona, said the advancement in digital technology is throwing up so many developments, which if tapped adequately in Nigeria, can put the country ahead.
Osibona said as part of putting up proper structure and ensure the country is adequately protected, government has commenced the process of hamonising all the disparate identity management to ensure “we can identify all the citizens accurately.” According to him, government has mandated the NIMC to coordinate the hamonisation of the data bases as soon as possible, “within the next few months that should start.”
Osibona reminded that the current administration was determined to develop a digital economy, which aimed to deliver government modernisation; greater value for citizens and businesses; transparency and open government.
The need for the hamonisation was further re-echoed by the Deputy Director, Banking and Payment System, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Musa Itopa-Jimoh, when he said identity management guards against frauds, “as accounts are linked to individuals.”
Itopa-Jimoh confirmed that the BVN was one of the disparate data that will be hamonise by the NIMC.
According to him, the purpose of the BVN is to further check activities of fraudsters in the banking industry and the country as a whole.The CBN chief said the BVN, which is in its third year now, gives a unique identity that can be verified across the Nigerian Banking Industry (not peculiar to one Bank). Customers Bank Accounts are protected from unauthorized access and addresses issues of identity theft, thus reduce exposure to fraud.
He revealed that the BVN is also being used by the Nigeria Police Force to checkmate activities of fraudsters in the country.Jimoh-Itopa disclosed that there will be a general framework on whom and what can access the BVN very soon.
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