Digital identity for Nigerian internally displaced persons approved by government

The Nigerian Federal Government has approved two new initiatives fostering the growth of digital identity and the digital economy in the country, Vanguard reports.

Digital identity solutions will be deployed to identify internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, and the country will also establish a Centre for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The memos containing information about the initiatives were presented by a minister to the Federal Executive Council (FEC). They show respectively the drafting of a National Policy on Digital Identity for IDPs and a request for the construction of a Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre at the FEC.

The approval of both memos goes towards the realization of the country’s efforts for the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria.

During his presentation, the unnamed minister also said the new policy aims at facilitating the deployment of digital IDs even for individuals lacking proper documentation.

Furthermore, the deployment of digital ID solutions is expected to enable IDPs access to public, private, and humanitarian services, as well as improving internal security.

The new Policy on Digital Identity for IDPs will be executed under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. It will be then implemented by the country’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Digital identity is an increasing focus for the Nigerian government. The country has been recently pushing NIMC to speed up biometrics enrollment for its national digital identity system.

Biometrics were also implemented to reduce costs and fraud in the Nigerian education system last month.

Finally, a Nigerian digital ID initiative for people with disabilities won the Mission Billion Challenge in October, highlighting the country’s advances in biometrics and digital ID solutions.

Article Topics

Africa  |  biometrics  |  digital identity  |  government services  |  identity management  |  National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)  |  Nigeria