Ex- President Obasanjo Advocates Harmonization Of INEC Database With National Identity Database

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the need for the harmonization of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database with National Identity Database (NIDB).

Obasanjo said this on Wednesday while playing host to the team of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Ogun state led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Olushola Shotayo who was on courtesy visit at his Villa inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta.

According to him, linkage of National Identification Number NIN to voters Card will strengthen our electoral System, sanitize it and remove many loopholes of electoral fraud. This in turn will berth desirable good governance and better leadership in our country.

The former President also moved for the inclusion of blood group in the data being collected at registration for NIN.

“Inclusion of blood group as part of the data being collected during NIN registration will go a long way to help accident victims and patients in comma rushed into an hospital and in need of blood to get it on time as their blood group will easily be identified. All these I am saying now were part of the things we had in our plans in 1977 when I initiated National Identity project for Nigeria.

It is unfortunate we are still at this stage in Nigeria with our identity management. In this digital age, everyone is expected to be digitally identified and oriented”.

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“Any nation that is behind in Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have problem with development, provision of welfare, security of her people and management of corruption.

That is one of the reasons we are having the problems being experienced presently in this country. I know some people are worried about the data you are collecting because it will expose them, but as time goes on, we will get acclimatized to transparency in this nation.

That is why I am pledging my support to you. In any way you want me to come in as my input to what you are doing, I will do it”. Obasanjo said

Others in the team of NIMC led by the State Coordinator include: Head of Enterprise Service and Network Infrastructure, Mrs. Abiola Adu, Head, Local Government Coordination, Mrs. Adenike Oyebolu, Customer Care Unit Head, Mr. Gbenga Odesanya.
Others are Head of Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit, Mrs. Folashade Abayomi and the State Media Officer (Corporate Communication Unit) Mr. Olutunde Aninkan.