AKSG donates power generating sets to enhance National ID Card enrolment in the State

  

BY EDIFONABASI-OBOT

Government of Akwa Ibom Statehas donated 21 portable electricity generators to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the State to aidthe use of biometric machines for the National ID Card enrolment across the State.

Special Adviser, Bureau of Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Rt. Hon.  (Barr.) Ekong Sampson 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 centreswhile 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 Special Adviser urged all citizens to take advantage of the enhanced opportunity and get enrolled for the National Identity Card, reiterating that living without identity is living blind.The support, he added, underscores the importance the Governor Udom Emmanuel led Government in the State attaches to the programme.

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. Hepraised 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 his team’s commitment to the State Government-NIMC partnership and promised to serve the State optimally.