The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that the mobile application designed for digital identification is still at the testing stage and has not been approved for use by members of the public.
The application allows citizens to log in with their national identification number (NIN) and registered phone number. After a successful login, the application is expected to display the full details of the citizen, including a photograph.
Some Nigerians who, however, tried to use the app had complained about the system malfunctions leading to being shown wrong identities.
However, NIMC has now revealed that the system application is still being tested and not yet available to members of the public. Kayode Adegoke, spokesman of the commission, announced that once the test is complete, Nigerians would be detailed on the modalities and operations of the application.
“Our attention has been drawn to several complaints about the NIMC mobile App. We will like Nigerians to be aware that the app is a novel innovation by the commission, but it is yet to be officially approved for public consumption,” the statement read.
“The app is still in the test environment and currently being fine-tuned to give users the best experience with adequate privacy and data security safeguards. Once the test stage is concluded, the Commission will issue a formal statement regarding its usage by our esteemed NIN registered persons.
“In the same vein, we want to assure Nigerians of the security of their data. Our systems are configured to ensure the utmost protection of the data.
“Members of the general public are hereby strongly advised to disregard commentaries and information from unauthorised sources about the app and other activities of the commission. The official communication platforms of the commission are the only authorised sources of information pertaining to all its activities – press releases; media parley; website and official social media handles.”
The national identity project has been embroiled in controversies, and multiple allegations of corruption involving several multinational organisations. The recent report of malfunction in the mobile application has again dampened the spirit of many who had projected that for once, the country would have a functional identity database.
