Nigeria’s answer to solving security challenges is NIN -Pantami
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Ibrahim Pantami, has explained reasons the enrolment of National Identity Number (NIN), witnessed resistance, adding that it is one answer to curbing security challenges in the country.
Pantami said without profiling no Nation would be secured, adding that no one can work in any country without National Identification Number (NIN).
The Minister made this disclosure in Gombe in a lecture themed: “Deployment of emerging technology to enhance the security tertiary institutions in Nigeria” marking the 6-35th combined convocation ceremony (1991/1992 – 2020/2021), of 29 set of graduands in the Federal College of Education (Technical).
He revealed that the country would establish 37 emergency communications centre by 2022 owing to the importance in combating security issues.
Pantami noted that If his policies are fully implemented by relevant agencies, tertiary institutions would be safe, adding that he would not disclose the processes in order not to sabotage the various security interventions.
He also identified artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, cyber security as examples of emerging technologies globally.
Pantami said, “When they are deployed they will need customization because in Nigeria, we have our own peculiar challenges partly power supply is a challenge that is why in most cases we need that it is because of this I have been pushing for National Identity Number (NIN) in Nigeria.
“Criminals do not like this and they have been it day-in day-out when I came out with the policy and they wrote petitions against me to stop it. Some to Mr president, some even court cases. Some criminals, at least people suspected to be criminals took the Federal Government to court, today it has become part of our lives because you can’t purchase sim without it. We are glad that Jamb has also accepted it.
“Without profiling no Country will be secured, it can’t be possible most of us when we travel to developed nations we have it, you can’t work in the United States with Social Security Number or in United Kingdom without National Insurance Number. In 13 years we were able to gather only 42 million, from that time to this year I have increased the data base to more than 67 million. From that time last year today, no single Kobo has been released for vote, we are existing on existing infrastructure. We were able to come up with our innovative solution in which we increased enrolment centres in the country 1,600 to over 6,000 today.”
According to the Minister, the main responsibility of leaders, at all levels is the security and welfare of their citizens, students.
He added, “The topic is very apt because in today’s Nigeria we are confronted with so many security challenges. The more one challenge is been addressed another challenge will emerge.
“It is necessary for us to be proactive to be ahead of criminals. We must be proactive to ensure we are ahead of them another dimension has been added to global insecurity today, the addition of cyber criminality.”
Also speaking, Isa Salami Governing board Chairman of FCE(T), said the topic is relevant following the impact of insecurity across the country.
On his part, Provost of the institution, Dr. Ali Adamu urged the Minister to make the presentation available to the school, likewise other Nigerian tertiary institutions.
