The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has captured over 31 million Nigerians in its data base as at July 2018.

Mr Loveday Chika, Head of Cooperate Communication, NIMC disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Chika said the figure comprised of both adults and children, adding that minors constituted about 255,794 of the total figure.

“Enrolment of minors is ongoing and has no age bracket, parents are encouraged to bring children that are one year and above so that the camera can capture their faces very well.

“What we have observed is that it is difficult to take pictures of children below one year, so we advise parents to wait until their kids are one year old.

“The process is that either of the parents must enroll first and produce his or her name upon which the details of the child will be enrolled to be able to establish a family history.

“This is because until a child turns 16, his or her biometrics is not fully formed, so we are able to put information about him on the family line.

“Once the child turns 16 he or she can come forward with birth certificate as a supporting document and update his or her biometrics,” he said.

Chika added that it is after the update that the child would be issued with a National Identification Number (NIN) card.

“We do not issue card to people below 16,’’ he said.

Chika described as encouraging the number of children so far registered by the commission, saying that the turnout is expected to increase with the current school vacation.

He, however, advised that Nigerians should utilise the opportunity to get registered, adding that NIN has so many social benefits which include access to government services, especially for individuals who do not have bank accounts.

“NIN will enable you to have an identity which you can use to access money, for instance if the government is paying any money, without your bank account money can be paid to you through NIN.
“It also enables you to assert your identity; nobody mistakes you for another; no matter how identical you are, NIN singles you out.

Worried by the dangers posed to the peace and security as well as democracy and corporate existence of the country, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Tuesday enjoined online publishers and social media influencers to refrain from disseminating fake news to the public.

At a dialogue with the group in Lagos which was a follow-up to the launch of the National Campaign against Fake News, the Minister stressed the need for all to shun fake news and do everything possible to stem its tide.

Describing the group as a critical Stakeholders, Lai observed that if the society loses confidence in the media, especially Social media because of fake news, the group would be the worst hit, a situation, he said, the country was heading to.

He told the group that the traditional media had signed on to the campaign hence the need for the Social media to join in the Campaign and carry a banner on their various platforms that says No To Fake News.

Lai said Nigerians are also being told to do two simple things before sharing any information on Facebook, Twitter or Whatsapp,that’s by asking how Credible the source is,  or don’t  share any information that you cannot vouch.

The Minister reaffirmed Federal Government position not to use Coercion or engage in censorship in order to fight the Facebook epidemic pointing out that the government believed that there are enough laws to fight the phenomenon.

He therefore appealed to the group and all Nigerians to join in fighting the fake news which he noted was aggravating the crises in the country.

“The war against fake news is a must-win. As a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation, Nigeria cannot afford an unbridled spread of fake news. This phenomenon is exploiting our fault lines to aggravate the crises in the country. Of course, you are aware of a recent BBC report that says fake news circulating in the social media is fuelling the farmers-herders crises in Nigeria. Gory pictures from other lands are circulated freely via Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, purportedly being from the killings in Benue or Plateau States.”. the Minister said.

According to the Minister, nations of the world and international organizations are taking steps against fake news. and that global media organizations are not left behind.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/02/news/impersonation-nigerian-billionaire-otedola-allegedly-suspends-twitter-acct/

A member of the Nigerian Senate, Dino Melaye was on Wednesday arraigned in an FCT High Court, Apo, on a six-count charge, bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.

By Ahmad Umar

Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia State , South East of the country has applauded the infrastructural development executed by his Gombe State counterpart,  Ibrahim Dankwambo in the last seven years.

Governor Ikpeazu was speaking to newsmen shortly after he commissioned a road in Gombe metropolis that was named after him.

He said, he was thrilled with the infrastructural development that the Dankwambo led Administration has been doing in the state saying,  “this is what we called strategic infrastructural development”.

Ikpeazu observed with delight that the Mega motor park under construction would also boost the commercial sector of the state through the movement of goods and services.

The Governor was of the opinion that in the nearest future,  Gombe state will become conferencing capital of West Africa with magnificent edifice for Conferences constructed in the state 

Governor Ikpeazu was taken round some of the projects within the state including the Millennium Mega Motor Park, Petroleum Tanker Parking Bay and the Gombe International Conference Centre.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiohmole has reiterated that he would not miss sleep for minute over Tuesday’s defection of some members of the National Assembly from the party.

15 senators on July 25 announced their defection from the APC to the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter to the President of the Senate, signed by 14 senators, they indicated their intention to leave the ruling APC for the opposition PDP.

Also 37 members of the House of Representatives formerly in the fold of the All Progressive Congress (APC), dumped the party the same date and moved to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The Representatives in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara officially announced their defection during plenary on Tuesday.

Oshiohmole, however, said the APC was not worried with the defection which he described as “mercenary activities’’.

He said: “Well, my attitude is like I have told you before, as the National Chairman, I am committed to listening to very legitimate grievances and engaging all those who are aggrieved that we can see through their grievances.

“But I insist that I will not miss a sleep one minute over mercenary activities.

“I had said and I want to repeat, this business of governance must be driven by men and women of honour.

“If the only motivation is personal interest, what is in it for me, how many people have done xyz for, if that is the basis, the earlier those in this business of personal gains, the earlier they return to where they belong the better.

“This party that I am privileged to chair is not worried at all, we are not disturbed.

“But let me assure you, I am so happy that over time that water will fill its level.’’

According to Oshiohmole, the APC is a progressive party and all its members must subscribe to the values and ideals of a progressive party.

“If indeed you belong to the extreme right, and you mistakenly find yourself in a progressive party, obviously that is not where you belong.

“As soon as you realize that you can’t adjust to the requirement of progressive, which is people driven, people based, people oriented and you choose to return to the right wing where you know what the name of the game was, share the money, it is your choice,’’ he added.

On the reported siege on the houses of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President by security personnel, Oshiohmole said he was not aware of such incidents.

He said: “When you are dealing with law and order issues I am not going to stand here and make comment on the basis of your own speculations,

“I need to have the details. I am not into security apparatus, I do not understand how they operate but you also don’t want to accuse me of obstruction of justice, which a democracy requires.

“So I am going to limit myself to my brief, namely issues that affect membership and the running of the APC. Just to reassure you, I am happy.

“I have made this point long ago that with time, Nigerians will really have to be able to say, this is what this party stands for, this is what the other party stands for.

“This thing that in the morning you will have breakfast with me, in the afternoon you are having lunch with python and in the evening you are having sugarcane with some other forces,

“I think in the interest of our nation we need to simplify these issues before the electorate. Because, the confusion is that you have coalition of people whose ideas are not compatible.’’

NAN

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/05/15/news/president-buhari-has-failed-nigerians-says-dpp/