GOVERNOR ALAO-AKALA CHARGES NATIONAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO MAKE NATIONAL ID CARDS SUPERIOR TO OTHER FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION

The Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala has charged the National Identity Management Commission to seriously work towards making the National Identity Card superior to any other forms of identification.

He gave the charge today in Ibadan at the commencement of the distribution of the national identity cards at the Executive Council chambers.

Governor Alao-Akala who described the national identity card as an important document to verify claims of nationality and demographic data of every Nigerian said the project should be accorded adequate attention.

Gov. Alao-Akala collecting his National Identity Card from Mr. Chris Onyemena.
The Governor also stressed the need for the NIMC to make the identity card available to all Nigerians by ensuring that those who have not been registered are adequately considered in the on going registration exercise, adding that the commission should also improve on its performance.

Governor Alao-Akala while pledging the support and assistance of his administration to the commission said that all necessary logistics would be provided to make its job easier, urging the commission to employ more hands to enhance the distribution of the national identity card to the people of Oyo State .

The State Chief Executive who at the occasion received his National Identity card from the Director General of the commission Mr. Chris Onyemena called on the people of the state to avail themselves of yet another opportunity to receive their national identity card.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of the National Identity Management commission Mr. Chris Onyemena apologized to the Governor for the lateness in distributing the National Identity card to the people of Oyo State .

He said that over two million citizens of Oyo State were registered in 2003 out of which one million, six hundred and fifty six or 80% people would be provided with the identity cards.

He explained that the remaining 20% were not provided with the identity card for reasons of incompleteness assuring that such people would now have the opportunity to register as the commission has upgraded its facilities and modernized its processes.