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Row over Digital IDs in Nigeria: Commission Asks Immigration Services to Use Alternates

Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has called on the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to use alternative digital ID verification platforms. Some of them are the improved National Identification Number (NIN) slip with QR Code and the MobileID app currently available to verify the identity of service seekers.

A statement depicted the possible response to claims by Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was responsible for the delay in the issuance of passports to Nigerians. 

The NIMC released the improved NIN slip and MobileID app early this year with the aim of facilitating the process of obtaining digital IDs and connecting them to SIM cards as stated by the Federal Government last year. NIMC Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke said that such complaints from the NIS showed the alternative ID verification systems were not adequately put to use. He said these platforms give the user full control of their ID credentials which can be seamlessly verified by simply scanning the barcode. 

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