Upon reading a briefing on the activities of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recommended that government agencies share the biometric data of citizens through a unified collection and usage procedure, according to a report by All Africa.
“It will be more cost effective if you work together,” said President Muhammadu Buhari. “It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily.”
President Buhari questioned the government agencies for their decision to individually collect the biometric data of citizens rather than working together to collect and share the data.
This is not the first time the issue has been brought to the attention of the Nigerian government. Last year, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan called for a similar action when he said that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) should collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the agency tasked with providing a biometric database for Nigeria.
Agencies did little to follow through on this recommendation as they continued to order Nigerians to submit their biometric data.
The past few years has seen the country introduce and enforce several mandatory biometric submission practices for civilians
“It will be more cost effective if you work together,” said President Muhammadu Buhari. “It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily.”
President Buhari questioned the government agencies for their decision to individually collect the biometric data of citizens rather than working together to collect and share the data.
This is not the first time the issue has been brought to the attention of the Nigerian government. Last year, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan called for a similar action when he said that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) should collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the agency tasked with providing a biometric database for Nigeria.
Agencies did little to follow through on this recommendation as they continued to order Nigerians to submit their biometric data.
The past few years has seen the country introduce and enforce several mandatory biometric submission practices for civilians
