Edifon Solomon, Uyo
Government of Akwa Ibom State has donated 21 portable electricity
generators to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the
State to aid the use of biometric machines for the National ID Card
enrolment across the State.
This support underscores the importance the
Governor Udom Emmanuel led Government in the State attaches to the
programme.
Special Adviser, Bureau of Political, Legislative Affairs
and Water Resources, Rt. Ho. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson who made the
donation said the gesture was indication of State Government commitment
to ensuring the enrolment of all persons in the State for the National
Identity Card.
He said the 1.3 kVA generators were to ensure power
supply does not hinder State Government at LGA centres while the giant
size generator is meant to complement power supply at the Head office in
Uyo.
Barrister Sampson said the challenge of ensuring every Akwa Ibomite is captured in the exercise is critical and remain a priority to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, adding that his Bureau is determined to drive this vision towards attaining the State Government goal of having every Akwa Ibomite enrolled on the national data base.
The South-South Coordinator and Regional Manager of the NIMC, Barr. Frank Unuigboje, who was there to receive the donations on behalf of the Commission expressed delight for the gesture shown by the State Government towards the success of the exercise in the State, describing it as a height of seriousness.
He praised Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Bureau of Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources for their commitment to citizens’ oriented programmes.
Barrister Frank Unuigboje emphasized that National Identity Number is as important to a citizen as water is to life.
He said International Passports or Driver’s License may not be the best forms of identification as they are based on purpose or interest that may not apply to every citizen, but the National ID Card, he said, remains the basic and best instrument of identification both within and outside the country.
He affirmed that the age for registration has been moved from age 16 to age 0, but clarified that people at very tender ages may not be issued the number yet, pending when they fully develop biometric features for adequate capturing.
He restated commitment to the State Government-NIMC partnership.
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