By DELEOGBODO
In its determination to resolve the lingering challenge created by the National Identity Number/Passport impasse, the Federal Government in a perceived deft move has relocated the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Ministry of Interior.
Recall that NIMC before now had been domiciled under presidency supervision until it was moved to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy headed by the immediate past Minister, by Prof. Ibrahim Pantami.
Competent source informed EXTRAORDINAIREPEOPLE.COM, that federal government moved swift to rebuild confidence in the system through tackling the ongoing complexities headlong which characterized the system even as test case for the ebullient and cracking young Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The possession of NIN is a vital prerequisite needed for the seamless application in day to banking transactions, procurement of International Passports and various other travel-related documents even as the Minister has asserted that owing a Nigerian passport by Nigerians must NOT be a privilege.
Also recall that the efforts made by the immediate past Minister to integrate NIN with Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) as a strategy to combat kidnapping, banditry and terrorists yielded no positive results as kidnappers in day light boldness collect huge ransom despite the linkage.
One of NIMC’s achievements and claims however was that well over100 million Nigerians have linked NIN with SIM since 2020.
A national newspaper however has reported that the transfer of NIMC to the Ministry of Interior is in tandem with President Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which Tunji-Ojo, has relentlessly been driving to clear the over 200,000 passports held down due NIS several encumbrances.
To fast track the entire process, the Minister while briefing the press in his office had given the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs. Carol Adepoju, 14 days’ timeline to resolve the passport quagmire and for the Service to redeem its image., adding that the President brought him to the Ministry to make things work.
Mr. Kayode Adegoke, has been quoted to have confirmed the relocation of the Commission to the Ministry of Interior
He said, “We are coming up with several innovations to address the problems. Nigerians will have opportunities to make online requests for changes of dates of birth, or any updates regarding their personal information. They will apply online and get responses in real-time.”