The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) led by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Chris Onyemenam, had on Monday, November 3, 2014 issued the electronic National Identity Card to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta.
The Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo while receiving the new National e-ID card acknowledged that it was more advanced than what they had in 1979 and 2003.
On a lighter mood, the former president said his Owu tribal marks were his own natural identity card with which he had been operating since he was born.
Obasanjo recounted the protests and criticisms he faced for initiating the idea adding that he was receiving the identity card at a time he was unemployed..
“It is not funny that I’m collecting the National Identity card at a time that I’m unemployed and unemployable,” he said.
“What we have now is what we wanted to do in 1979 but not as complex as this one and also not as sophisticated as this. Although we are getting the card late, we are getting the best that technology can offer.
“When I broached the subject of identity card in 1979, there were protests by those who felt otherwise. Today I am happy there is no objection. What Sagem gave us was not this sophisticated. Maybe we are getting the best, maybe not. I hope what we have now can be updated.
“It may interest you to note that the national identity card project in 1979 for Nigerians who were 18 years and above was only N16 million. Now, billions of naira must have been expended on the new project now.”
Hoping that the Identity card would help allay insecurity in the nation, Obasanjo said, “I hope this project will enhance security. It will also make easy intelligence gathering.”
“My concern is the complication. I know I get special treatment. How will ordinary people be treated? How much facility on the card is useful to them? What is the penalty for losing the card? “How much of this functionality in the card will be useful to him and how much will be paid knowing that poverty is still ravaging the rural dwellers. These are issues you will have to address.”
Meanwhile, the director general NIMC in reaction recalled that the new project was initiated by Obasanjo, who approved the process on May 16, 2007.
Furthermore, he allayed the fears by some Nigerians that the e-ID card could be used to perpetrate fraud, saying the card with its inbuilt technology was rather intended to stop fraud.
He also assured that the NIMC had put in place adequate arrangement to ensure that Nigerians residing in the hinterlands and the creeks are captured in its ongoing nationwide registration.
