The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that its mobile app has not been released or approved for public consumption. This clarification was made in a statement by Head, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke.
He said in the statement: “Our attention has been drawn to several complaints about the NIMC Mobile App. We will like Nigerians to be aware that the App is a novel innovation by the Commission, but it is yet to be officially approved for public consumption.
“The App is still in the test environment and currently being fine-tuned to give users the best experience with adequate privacy and data security safeguards. Once the test stage is concluded, the Commission will issue a formal statement regarding its usage by our esteemed NIN registered persons.
“In the same vein, we want to assure Nigerians of the security of their data. Our systems are configured to ensure the utmost protection of the data.
“Members of the general public are hereby strongly advised to disregard commentaries and information from unauthorized sources about the App and other activities of the Commission.
“The official communication platforms of the Commission are the only authorized sources of information pertaining to all its activities – press releases; media parley; website and official social media handles.”
The NIMC spokesman had to release a statement after reports emerged on social media that Nigerians can now download their national Identity Card from the said mobile app.
Interestingly, some Nigerians were able to download their national ID card, others weren’t while another set lambasted the NIMC for filling their ID card with another person’s details.
The need to use the mobile app was further fueled by the statement credited to Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola who said that the Federal Government has dumped plastic ID cards for digital identification.
As a result of the uproar caused by the use of the unreleased/unapproved mobile app, the NIMC had no choice than to pull it from Google Play Store.
