THE move by the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to harmonise and integrate biometric databases as directed by the Federal Government is a welcome development.  However, for several reasons, we must proceed with caution, in order to secure the success of such harmonisation.

The significant advantages that the existence of an operational central database repository would bring not only to the country but to all citizens, as the central database should provide useful information for planning at national and local levels. As expected, the NIMC would lead other government agencies such as ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and private sector organisations. It is imperative that all the organisations key into this central repository, to create uniform information to be used by all the bodies.

The progress towards the actualisation of the project was indicated by the Director-General of the NIMC – Chris Onyemenam. He recently stated that ‘about seven million Nigerians have so far registered on our database. In collaboration with the other agencies, in the next three months, or so, we hope to quadruple that number.”

Unfortunately, this figure represents only about 4.4% of the Nigerian population of about 160 million with the national identity cards. When one considers that this is after the Jonathan government approved N30 billion for this project, one wonders, why the progress is so slow. With a low customer base, which certainly falls below expectation, one wonders whether we will ever successfully implement the National Identity Project. Perhaps, it is time for the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on this department?

Furthermore, it was recently reported that while speaking on the 2016 census, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Eze Duruiheoma, indicated that this will be based on biometrics. What is most alarming is how we can be talking about a census in 2016 based on biometrics, when databases are yet to be harmonised, integrated, tested and unable to communicate and exchange information with less than a year to go.

Looking ahead, even if the harmonisation exercise had started, what will be the common denominator?  The only unifying data structure would be bio-data, which is complicated, more error prone, expensive and short time to really test out the data. The most cost effective, less error prone, authentic unifying common denominator would be National Identity Number (NIN) issued by NIMC.  I doubt if NPC requested this from Nigerians in the last census.

How does NIMC align Bank Verification Number to her database?  It is much easier and less complicated for banks to ask customers to supply their National Identification Number (NIN) issued by NIMC, thereby making it less error prone to harmonise.

What is more confusing with this harmonization exercise is that different companies (private and public) uniquely identified their customers using their own identity numbers in addition to bio-data. Again, NIMC was left out while issuing these identity numbers.  This means bio-data is the only unique entity to bind data with NIMC. Alternatively, NIMC, could also key in these numbers into their database but this would even cause more confusion in the future.

According to the DG of NIMC, “The importance of the national identity card to Nigerians of voting age has been emphasised by President Muhammadu Buhari, who noted that the card would in the future complement voters’ card.”  With election coming up in 2019 and low customer base of NIMC, how would INEC and NIMC achieve this?

When these databases are finally harmonised, will the systems involved be interconnected? In other words, will banks be able to query NIMC database in minutes and make business transactions fast? Will INEC be able to talk to NIMC and verify information without carrying files from one office to another?  Computer systems today have made it possible to talk to one another in matter of seconds. Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) should be actively involved to make these connections hassle free.

Databases form the third or backend of any three-tier or n-tier architecture in a distributed computing environment. As such, not paying special attention to the middle tier where the business logic lies is a total waste of time. Databases do only a fraction of the work involved in multi-architecture environments.

There has been confusion over which department should be responsible for registration of births and deaths.  Ideally, the NIMC should be saddled with this responsibility but knowing fully she has not been able to deliver the national identity cards to Nigerians, it will be a waste of resources to burden it further with this task.  The National Population Commission (NPC) should work closely with the NIMC to achieve this.  State and local governments should never be allowed to collect such data. Without national identity card, we will never be able to have accurate births and deaths needed for national planning.

For harmonisation to be successful, steady and uninterrupted power supply must be in place. We have witnessed more power supply since President Buhari came into power. We hope it improves so that more companies would be able to hook up to NIMC database, thereby making data readily available.

The NIMC must work out data sharing agreements with all stakeholders – MDAs, banks, telecommunications, hospitals, etc and ensure it is not exposed to unnecessary litigation resulting from breach of customers’ data.  So many government websites worldwide have been attacked by hackers and no system is completely foolproof these days.

Furthermore, there may be need for legislation, making it compulsory for all Nigerians to obtain the e-ID on expiration of their current ID (drivers licence, car plate number, international passport, school ID, INEC, FRSC, PenCom, FIRS/JTB, NHIS, FMARD, etc) . This must be done gradually so that by 2024, every newborn Nigerian would be issued with ID within the few days of birth.

• Odili-Idiagbor, a Middleware Consultant, is with the Government of Canada in Ottawa wrote via [email protected].