Group urges president Tinubu to halt the issuance of new national ID

The Human Rights Writers Association has urged President Bola Tinubu to halt the plans to issue new National Identity Cards, calling the exercise a conspiracy to defraud Nigerians of public cash and a waste of their commonwealth.

The group argued that the proposal demonstrated a lack of a national strategy for developing and putting into effect advantageous public rules controlling the issuing of IDs.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator for HURIWA, revealed this in a statement on Sunday.

The Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIMC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated on April 5, 2024, that the NIMC would be collaborating to introduce a new card with many features, including financial and social services.

The commission’s management made it clear that the new ID card would be a single, versatile card rather than three distinct cards in a memo headed “Key Facts About the Proposed New General Multipurpose National Identity Card” that was sent out on Friday.

HURIWA questioned how 133 million poor Nigerians suffering “crushing poverty”, were expected “to maintain working bank accounts to enable them to collect the so-called single National ID”.

The group said, “This is a scheme to rip off Nigeria of monumental and humongous amounts of public funds which will end up in the offshore bank accounts of top leaders and their mistresses and acolytes.

“We call on President Bola Tinubu to discontinue this sheer misuse of both the commonwealth of Nigerians and the plan to once more subject Nigerians to rounds of ordeals of queuing up in the hot sun or rains all over the country in their banks to access their so-called banks to obtain the dubious national identity card even as the Rights group said it is poor thinking for NIMC to assume that all Nigerians have functional bank accounts to enable them get the ID from those banks.”

HURIWA added that it was of the opinion that the plan was part of a sinister plot by “fast fingers” in the corridors of power to use the public funds to “empower their mistresses, friends and cronies.” A report revealed that 50% of Nigerians were unbanked and unbankable due to extreme poverty.

The organization recommended that the International Passport be used as the primary identity card.

Alex Obichie
Alex Obichie
Alex Obichie is an Ardent Sustainability Enthusiast, advocate for the Waste-2-Wealth Initiative, and Ingenious Politician, he uses articles to promote and sensitize the public about matters surrounding the environment, political systems and ways to benefit & support sustsinable global development.

Popular Related

Lagos govt welcomes collaboration to bridge housing deficits

The Lagos State Government has open it collaboration to bridge the housing deficits in the state. It was said that it was working with the...

Kano gov swears in seven new commissioners, six perm secs

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Monday, swore in seven new commissioners and six permanent secretaries as part of his administration’s renewed efforts...

ABUTH resident doctors begin five-day warning strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors, Ahmadu Bello University Teachin Hospital (ABUTH) branch has commenced a five-day warning strike over owed salaries. Dr. Ashiru Mikail,...

Residents of Anambra State frowned at prolonged public holidays

Anambra residents has expressed dissatisfaction at the additional day authorized by the federal government for the Muslim celebration, stating that this will bring negative...

Abiodun hails Ogun cleric elevation as archbishop

Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State Governor has congratulated Bishop Taiwo Akinola, on his investiture into the office of charismatic Archbishop. He described the spiritual attainment as...

Tinubu insists on business visit to Qatar amidst decline

President Bola Tinubu's trip to Qatar for an investment and business roundtable has been reportedly declined. This was mentioned in a letter dated February 22,...

Federal Government launches citizens’ feedback platform

In order to establish a "strong a feedback mechanism between citizens and government" on the eight priority areas of the Bola Tinubu administration, the...

APC chieftains in Bayelsa warns Tinubu against making alliances with Douye Diri

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been warned by the Stakeholders Forum of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State "to be wary of any...

Police nab seven suspected cultists, recovered firearms in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command said it's operatives have apprehended seven suspected cultists with some recovered weapons in the state. This arrest was confirmed in...

NDDC, commerce chamber to train Niger Delta youths in entrepreneurship

The Management of Niger Delta Development Commission has announced that the commission would collaborate with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to support youth...