Emeka Aginam
17 August 2008
TO avoid identity theft and ensure transparent process, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that the SIM card registration that would commence soon will include a system that would capture the biometrics of individual subscribers.
The boss of regulatory agency, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe who spoke to IT journalists yesterday in Lagos in commemoration of seven years of GSM evolution in the country said the commission will be working with the National Identity Management Commission and the Federal Road Safety Commission in the creation of a national database expected to effectively capture details of Nigerians.
Ndukwe who said that NCC was committed to the development of a robust telecom infrastructure and professional manpower noted that the current identification system in the country needed further development as it was not reliable enough to fight criminal activities in the 21st century knowledge economy. While giving examples of some countries of the world including Sweden that already have a numbering system that includes a person's bio-data shortly after birth, he said if such a system was introduced in Nigeria, it will be easy to identify individuals details.
"We will make sure that the citizens are protected in the knowledge economy. The industry group/committee has been given mandate to complete their assignment after which a time line for future process will be given. We have ensured that enough time is given to ensure that the system has a good data base.
It is going to be free and fair to ensure the growth of the industry is not affected We cannot continue to operate a system whereby people's bio-data are not registered in the system just like drivers's licence and other identification systems that have no details of individuals. The registration of SIM cards had become necessary following reports of increasing use of mobile phones for nefarious activities by some individuals. We need to address this issue head on" he explained.
According to him, the commission would not make the process cumbersome as to discourage participation and negatively affect the current growth in the telecom sector, adding that the committee set up to take care of the system will be given enough time to deliver. Similarly, Ndukwe disclosed that the commission was also working towards ensuring that the anti-mobile phone theft scheme currently being developed is rolled out before the end of 2008 fiscal year.
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