FG Relocates NIMC to Ministry of Interior
The Federal Government has decided to relocate the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to the Ministry of Interior.
This move aims to address the persistent challenges associated with National Identity Numbers (NIN), which are a crucial requirement for obtaining International Passports and other travel documents.
Under the previous administration, NIMC had partnered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to link NIN with Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) to combat issues like kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
Remarkably, over 100 million Nigerians successfully linked their NIN with their SIM within a span of three years.Sources in Abuja revealed that the process of transferring NIMC to the Ministry of Interior is being expedited, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to eliminate obstacles hindering the acquisition of NIN and Passports.
A source familiar with NIMC operations emphasized that the Ministry of Interior has historically been the natural home for NIMC and lamented that the NIN-related problems could have been resolved sooner with technological innovation, were it not for bureaucratic tendencies centered around contract awards.
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The Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, confirmed the relocation, stating, “Yes, we have been moved.”
Adegoke also acknowledged the delays in issuing NINs, particularly for those needing corrections in birth dates or name sequences, but reassured that NIMC is launching a mobile application to address these issues.
He added, “We are introducing several innovations to tackle the problems. Nigerians will soon be able to request changes to their personal information online and receive real-time responses.”
Regarding concerns about fraudulent activities exploiting NIN-related problems, Adegoke dismissed such claims, asserting that these individuals were not associated with NIMC.Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service is deploying additional personnel to its frontline desks across the country to meet the two-week deadline set by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The Minister had urged the Service to clear the backlog of over 200,000 Passport applications, and within just five days, over 55,000 applications have already been processed.
The Nigeria Immigration Service emphasized its commitment to meeting the deadline, with personnel working tirelessly, even during weekends.
The Acting Comptroller General, Mrs. Wura-Ola Adepoju, has been proactive in this endeavor, ensuring that all facilities and equipment are operating efficiently to expedite the Passport issuance process.
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