Make Use Of National Database To Track Criminals – Pantami

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has urged security agencies to leverage the national identity database during criminal investigations.

Mr Pantami said this at the Identity Day celebration held in Abuja on Friday.

“We have sanitised our database and we are pleading with our security institutions to make use of this database,” he said.

“It is not our work to do the security work, our work is to support them. The two databases are available for NIN and SIM,” he added.

He said both the NIMC and NCC claimed that the utilisation of the data has been highly insignificant.

“It is because of this we are pleading that if they can leverage on this, we have no doubt they will be able to address the significant challenges of security we are being confronted with,” he said.

In 2019, the federal government approved the recognition and observance of 16 September as National Identity Day in Nigeria.

The choice of the date (16.9) is highly symbolic, as it is in commemoration of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 which calls for the provision of legal identities for all by 2030, including birth registration.

Speaking on the importance of valid identity, Mr Pantami said it would help in planning and provision of basic amenities in the country.

“The world population is increasing but efforts by African countries to ensure proper identification of citizens is below average.

“Without proper identification, planning for basic amenities and budgets for citizens will be difficult,” he said.

He called on institutions to encourage citizens to embrace enrolment to ensure that the remaining population that has not enrolled is fully covered.