Government inaugurates Committee to harmonise citizens’ data

* Says project to ensure national security, public safety 

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Nigeria may soon witness a new regime in adequate planning for development purposes, as the Presidential Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonisation has assured the citizenry that it would work towards speedy harmonisation of the Nigerians’ numerous identification data held by different government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

President Muhammadu Buhari, News Agency of Nigeria reports, inaugurated the Committee, which mandate is to ensure a single database owned and managed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Mr. Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, made disclosed this in a statement Tuesday, in Abuja, FCT.

The report says Manga quoted Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior and Chairman of the Committee, as noting the President’s commitment to the global fight against terrorism at the inaugural meeting of the committee.

The minister said no stone would be left unturned in ensuring national security and public safety of Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Ogbeni Aregbesola said, “The harmonisation of the database has become imperative because of the present global security challenges and the urgent need for Nigeria to join the international community in the fight against transnational crimes and criminality.”

The Minister also set up three sub-Committees, for speedy and efficient delivery of the presidential mandate as contained in the terms of reference of the committee.

The sub-committees are “Citizen Data Management and Harmonisation, Central Crime Data Management and Harmonisation as well as Limited and Temporary Visa Restrictions.

Aregbesola called on the committees to immediately commence the review of the recent limited and temporary immigrant visa restrictions by the United States of America.

He also urged them to develop and implement systems and processes that would address the security concerns raised by the United States, and submit their interim report on or before February 14, 2020.

Members of the Committee present at the inaugural meeting were Ministers for Communications and Digital Economy, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Others are Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Minister for Police Affairs, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and Director-General, National Population Commission (NPC) were in attendance.

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Chairman, National Electoral Commission (INEC), Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Accountant-General of the Federation also attended the meeting.

The presidential committee is expected to prepare and submit its final report on or before March 16.