Dragnet Solutions, Warwick Warp Ltd. to create biometric database for West African countries

Dragnet Solutions, along with Warwick Warp Ltd., is looking to launch a centralized biometric identity database for West African nations, allAfrica reports.

Robert Ikhazoboh, the managing director of Dragnet Solutions said the need to provide a modern and efficient identification system that is private-sector led was the dream behind the project.

“At Dragnet Solutions, we are noted for our bouquet of innovative products and services that are carefully designed to address seemingly intractable challenges,” Ikhazoboh said. “In Nigeria, for instance, the National Identity Card scheme has been hampered by different issues and there seems to it for now. The Centralised Biometric Identity Database is, therefore, the solution to the identity verification problem of the country. We are partnering a renowned Warwick Warp to deliver this solution. We will start with some private organisations like educational institutions, oil companies, among others that handle a lot of data in the course of their businesses, and we also plan to extend it to the public sector later.”

According to the allAfrica report, Ikhazoboh also said this this project would be launch in March 2013, accompanied by supportive innovative identity management solutions for the sub region.

Warwick Warp was founded in 2006 out of the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and uses a mathematical three-dimensional approach to fingerprint analysis which can neutralize the effects of interruptions in fingerprint patterns.

Warwick also offers an AFIS system, and it’s expected this is the system to be used in Nigeria. Dragnet Systems provides real-time identity verification solutions, primarily to financial institutions.

As reported previously in BiometricUpdate.com, many west African countries have been rapidly deploying biometric systems. For example, the Nigeria government has been collecting biometric details of all citizens in preparation for a program to issue unique national identity numbers to all Nigerians. According to Chairman of the NPC Chief Festus Odmegwu, biometric identification would help to streamline the avalanche of foreigners into the country, as well as work to fight kidnapping and armed robberies.

“We are going to do for the first time in Nigeria a comprehensive biometric census.” The chairman said. “To record all Nigerians, their biometrics, give them one number that will follow them from birth to death.”

Also in West Africa, Ghana recently completed its first general election using a biometric voter verification system. As reported in BiometricUpdate.com, following the election, Ghana now leads the world in biometric voter registration, having enrolled 13 million people for an election in 48 hours.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  civil ID  |  fingerprint  |  government  |  national database  |  national ID