By Providence Obuh

LAGOS—Director General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri has said that the agency would support the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, to ensure the success of the National Identification Number, NIN, project, as according to him, the scheme was a necessary step towards addressing the security challenges in the country.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the NOA, Mr Paul Odenyi stated that Omeri spoke during a working visit to the NIMC where he registered and received his NIN immediately.

He also said the efforts of the NIMC at unifying other existing forms of identification will eliminate problems hitherto experienced in data collection in the country by streamlining the activities of all agencies involved in identification data collection.

According to Omeri, the exercise would furthermore, minimise waste and maximize convenience for Nigerians.

‘’The NIN will reconnect Nigerians and uphold citizens’ right to identification and assist relevant agencies to tackle vices by people who do the wrong things such as terrorism,” he said, and pledged the NOA’s commitment to availing the NIMC with its numerous platforms for mass sensitization and mobilization towards participation in the national identification project.

He said the over 5,000 strong workforce of the NOA in all 774 Local Government Areas of the nation, speaking all the 520 indigenous Nigerian languages will facilitate grass-roots communication of the need, ideals and processes of the project.

On his part, the NIMC Director General, Chris Onyemena said his commission would partner with agencies like the NOA which focus on their core competences, to get the people to key into government programmes.