CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The national identification number is a part of Nigeria’s National Identity Management System, the other part is the General Multi-Purpose Card. The number stores an individual’s unique data into the database. It is part of a measure to create a national identity database and to prevent both double identity and identity fraud.
The National Identification/Identity Number (NIN) is a set of numbers assigned to an individual upon successful enrollment. Enrollment consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data and capture of the ten (10) fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and digital signature, which are all used to cross-check existing data in the National Identity Database to confirm that there is no previous entry of the same data [National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), 2022].
Because it tells so much about a person, National Identity Number (NIN) can also be called a true image of an individual or person, according to the descriptions above.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was founded in 2007 by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, with the aim of establishing, owning, operating, maintaining, and managing Nigeria’s National Identity Database. The gathering of biometrics and required demographic data in a standardized manner, which would permit identity identification and verification using the unique National Identification Number (NIN), is a crucial requirement of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) (NIMC, 2011). In order to fulfill its responsibilities, the National Identity Management Commission established the National Identity Management and Harmonization Committee (NIMHC) in July 2009, which will serve as the custodian for creating standards for the National Identity Management System. By the extension of the National Identity Management Commission Act, Section 5, part (j), NIMHC established rules and standards that shall be binding on all subjects, agencies, organizations, and entities that are collecting, disseminating, or consuming identity data in Nigeria [National Identity Management Commission(NIMC), 2011].
The NIN is set to be used for all transactions in Nigeria requiring identity verification such as :
- i obtaining your National e-ID card
- ii travel (international passport application & acquisition)
- iii opening personal bank accounts
- iv getting your driver’s license
- v obtaining your Permanent Voters’ Card
- vi participating in the National Health Insurance Scheme
- vii payment of your taxes
- viii transactions related to your contributory pension scheme
- ix access to welfare and other relevant services from the Nigerian Government
- x land transactions subject to the Land Use Act
NIMC is engaged in harmonization and integration of data with various agencies across Nigeria who deal with the various services above to ensure smooth coordination of activities.
NIMC has been seen to carry out its responsibilities well, although there are several obstacles and problems affecting it’s mode of operation.
One of such problems is the delay and unnecessary stress that individuals experience from day to day in their attempts to register for National Identity Number.
Another problem is that many people are being exposed to unnecessary health risks, as they attempt to register for the NIN, especially with the crowd that is almost always found around the registration centres. And also standing on a queue for long and sometimes not been attended to by the staff in charge .
By establishing an online national identity number request and delivery system for Nigerians, this project aims to address identified issues/problems.
Although there are various branches of the National Identity Management Commission that are responsible for checking and providing the National Identity Number, the Department of National Civil Registration under the NIMC, Anambra State Office, Awka, would be our focus for this project work.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
From what the researcher observed at the Department of National Civil Registration under the NIMC, Anambra State Office, Awka, one of the center for NIN registration which will be our focus for this project work.
First, when a person arrives at the office of the National Identity Management Commission, they would usually meet a crowd of people already gathered around the premises of the registration centre. Then, if they manage to gain access to any of the NIMC’s officials and inquire about the requirements for registering for the NIN, they are usually asked to go to a nearby business centre to get the registration form, or to visit a cybercafé, download and print the registration/enrollment form from the NIMC’s website, fill the form, and bring back to the registration centre, usually on a specified date.
Regarding this practice, some questions arise: Is the NIMC registration centre ordinarily not supposed to be responsible for issuing the hard-copy of the enrollment forms free-of-charge to those wishing to register? Must those wishing to register for the National Identity Number have to go to a business centre or a cybercafé to get the enrollment form, at their own expense? Must people visit the enrollment centre before they could get NIN? All these contribute to the unnecessary stress and expense encountered by those seeking to register for the NIN.
Then, on returning to the registration centre with the completed forms and other necessary documentation, one is asked to queue up, usually among a crowd of other people who have come for the same registration. And usually, not everyone who spends precious time waiting in the queue is attended to eventually! People, including the elderly, can spend several hours waiting for their turn, or can even spend the whole day at the registration centre.
The researcher also observed that the Bank Verification Number is usually requested when submitting one’s enrollment form. What about the people who do not have a bank account? Will they be automatically denied the opportunity of registering for and getting the National Identity Number simply because they do not have or operate a bank account, and therefore have no BVN? There have been stories of people who have been turned back, refused to be attended to, because they did not have a BVN. All of these make the process of registering for the NIN difficult, stressful and frustrating!
Also, in this period of the coronavirus pandemic, many people are being exposed to unnecessary health risks, as they attempt to register, especially with the crowd that is almost always found around the registration centre. There is usually a difficulty maintaining social distancing in those circumstances because of the usually small space that the NIMC office and its surroundings usually occupy, compared to the crowd that is usually present at the centre.
At times also, the registration centres experience some problems, such as electric power outage, problems with their generators, and even problems with their computer networks which sometimes make it difficult for them to access the data associated with the BVN numbers. When these problems arise, they only add to the stress and frustrations of the people who have come for the registration! Some, after they have waited in the queue, and standing for several hours, are even later asked to go back home, without having accomplished what they have waited so painfully and patently for. These include even the elderly, who also have to stand in queues for long periods of time. Hours that should have been better utilized on more productive engagements have been wasted at the registration centre, and this even occur on several days/occasions.
The problems stated above might be because of the vast volume of records to be scanned, scanning through reports for a file with specific information can be a time-consuming and tedious task. Also, changing specific information as a result of marriage, a change of name, or the loss of an identity number, also known as an update, will be a tug of war for the person in charge.
It causes citizen fatigue and staff disengagement from their duties, limiting the powers Department of National Civil Registration’s services in accordance with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution, which states that “No Public Officer shall place himself in a position where his personal interests conflict with his duties and responsibilities.” No. 1 in the 5th schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
In view of all the challenges and frustrations currently being experienced during the process of registering for the National Identity Number, the implementation of the “online national identity number request and delivery system” will be able to limit access to non-authorized individuals, give faster access to knowledge, and address all of the aforementioned issues/problems above.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the method of operation used by the National Identity Management Commission, Anambra State Office, Awka, and to design an online system that will manage citizen personal information and allow citizens to request for an identity number online from the comfort of their home or working place, which will be delivered to them. The following precise objectives were set out to attain the intended aim:
- Citizens will be able to request for NIN online with their smartphone or computer and have it delivered to them without necessarily going to the NIMC registration center.
- Ensure accurate and timely update of the holder’s record.
- Provide a proper account of the identity number issued.
- Track how the identity number is used by the citizens.
- Develop a proper secured gateway the will connect with NIMC existing database which keeps all vital information ready for use.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This project work will be extremely beneficial to the National Identity Management Commission, since it will enable them to operate more efficiently and also reduce the number of people coming to there centre for NIN registration. Only authorized users will have access to the database, reducing data modification and loss. With the proposed system, Nigeria citizens will request for NIN at their convenience in a secured manner.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This is limited to the activities involved in National Identity Management Commission and its administration system and also report generation on the National Identity Number holders Information. The system is built using HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT and PHP programming language and runs on a browser. The client/server architecture ensures that the server database is updated whenever necessary and every branch of the NIMC is updated too.
It is on these that the effectiveness and efficiency of the National Identity Number section of NIMC, Anambra State Office, Awka is built.
1.6 Limitations of the Study
The limitation is based on facts that the researcher was unable to get in relation to the study, which leads to issues of insufficient analysis. Time constraints and money constraints are added to these constraints.
1.7 Definition of Terms
As we go into this work, some words will need precise definition to enable the reader assimilate the entire contents.
COMPUTER: An electronic machine capable of accepting data in the form of input, processes it under a set of complete condition, stores information or request for references and generated result in the form of output.
SMARTPHONE: A mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, internet access, and an operating system capable of running downloaded apps
INTERNET: The Internet is a vast network that connects computers all over the world. Through the Internet, people can share information and communicate from anywhere with an Internet connection.
WEB BROWSER: A web browser (also referred to as an Internet browser or simply a browser) is application software for accessing the World Wide Web or a local website.
CITIZEN: Under the provision of the amended constitution decree No. 32 of 1974, citizen is any person who becomes citizen of any country either by birth, descendant, Registration or Nationalization.
IDENTITY NUMBER PROCESSING: The procedure involved in processing an identity number.
IDENTITY NUMBER ASSESMENT: The procedure or act of checking Identity number already in use or to be issued.
IMMIGRATION: This is a process whereby people move from the country to another to settle.
EMIGRATION: This is a process whereby people come from one country to settle.
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