First lady urges NIMC to issue National e-ID Cards to women

The first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that all Nigerian women get enrolled into the National Identity Database, and also receives their new National e-ID Cards.

Speaking shortly after she was presented her Card by the Director General of NIMC, Barrister Chris 'E Onyemenam, at the state house in Abuja yesterday, the first lady commended the Commission for delivering her National e-ID Card in record time.

She however noted that the Commission must work judiciously to ensure that no woman is left behind in the enrolment of the National Identification Number (NIN) and the issuance of the National e-ID Card. According to her, the National e-ID Card will enable meassert my identity as a Nigerian, but the Commission must ensure that the e-ID Card reaches to the Grass-root areas and hinterlands, especially to the women folk. 'NIMC must ensure that the distribution of the e-ID Card should reach all Nigerians particularly the women folk which is my Primary Constituency.' she said. According to her, NIMC must quickly embark on a massive awareness and sensitisation campaigns in the rural areas in particular and Nigeria at large to further create awareness on the project. The first lady also implored NIMC to ensure that the new National e-ID Card is not faked and urged the commission to collaborate with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that the National e-ID Card supports and compliments the International passport. 'The NIMC must however collaborate with Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), indeed the combination of the International passport and the National e-ID Card will help affirm the identity of any Nigerian, 'she said. She added that this new card should be able to differentiate Nigerians from Non-Nigerians and also assist the security agencies, fish out non Nigerians who are posing as Nigerians.