The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, has commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing a community-driven, ward-level registration of the National Identification Number (NIN) across the country.
Amgbare gave the commendation on Thursday when the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Eric Obi, paid him a courtesy visit at the NDBDA headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He noted that the presidential directive would take NIN registration beyond conventional centres to rural and underserved communities in all 774 local government areas of the country.
According to him, decentralising the registration process to the ward level will significantly increase access to the National Identification Number, thereby improving identity verification and strengthening national security.
“This community-driven NIN registration exercise aims to increase accessibility and inclusivity, especially for rural and underserved populations. The initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Federal Government to decentralise registration, boost national security and enhance grassroots inclusion,” Amgbare said.
He added that locating registration centres closer to communities would reduce travel distances for residents and make it easier for citizens to enrol in the national identity database.
“The goal of the presidential directive is to collect comprehensive data, enhance security, prevent illegal registration and strengthen the national identification system,” he stated.
Earlier, the Bayelsa State Coordinator of NIMC, Dr. Obi, stressed the need for key stakeholders to sensitise rural communities on the importance of the registration exercise.
He explained that the initiative is specifically designed to reach rural and underserved populations, ensuring that more Nigerians are captured in the national identity system.
Dr. Obi noted that accurate data collection would help curb identity fraud and strengthen national security, adding that a comprehensive national database would also facilitate efficient government services and social intervention programmes.
He further disclosed that the NIN registration exercise is free of charge for all citizens and legal residents, including children and adults.
The NIMC team on the visit included the Head of Performance Management System, Udeme Okon; Head of the Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit, Douglas Tamunoemi; and Supervisor, State Office/Head of Operations, Jato Selekezei.
Also present were the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief (Mrs) Mary Alagoa (Rivers); Executive Director, Agricultural Services, Mr. Felix Kurogha (Bayelsa); and Executive Director, Planning, Investigation and Design, Prof. Nnamdi Akani (Rivers).