The Federal Government said  weekend it had set a target of registering 100 million Nigerians in 30 months under the national identity card project. It also said it was working to ensure that a national identity data base was created in order to ensure that a citizen identity data verification infrastructure becomes functional before the end of 2010.

Speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of the  board of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chairman of the Board, Uche Secondus, said the board would work with   the management to ensure the target coverage of citizen registration exercise of 100 million in 30 months.

He said the commitment of the board to ensure the complete harmonisation and integration of identity data bases in government institutions and the need to make it possible for a Nigerian to assert his identity in a dependable manner in Nigeria and any part of the world.

He said the board was aware of government’s belief that the project held the key to unlocking many service delivery bottlenecks both in and outside government. He noted that the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, would soon launch the on-line real-time identity verification systems and infrastructure.

Speaking earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, said the Chris Onyemenam-led commission was established following the limited success achieved in the past at evolving a secure, widely acceptable and reliable national identity verification and authentication systems.

He said the establishment of the commission was an important milestone in the process of realising government’s objectives of ensuring an effective and efficient identity assurance system in the country.
“I would, however, use this occasion to remind us of the importance of ensuring and sustaining a harmonious and good working relationship between the governing board and the management of the commission.

“I am saying this with all sense of responsibility, having received several petitions and complaints against the boards or management of several agencies. I wish to advise that that the board should restrict itself to issuing broad policy guidelines, approving operational targets and ensuring efficient management of resources to achieve approved targets,” he said.

The commission is statutorily empowered to create, operate and manage the national identity data base, register individuals and legal residents, assign unique national identification number as well as introduce general multi-purpose cards.