Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was successfully enrolled for the National Identification Number (NIN) today in Abuja.

In a brief exercise, supervised by the DG/CEO NIMC Engr. Aliyu Aziz, the former Vice President and his wife were both enrolled and issued their National Identification Numbers.

Speaking with the DG/CEO after he was enrolled, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar thanked the Commission’s management for the honor of having his enrolment exercise done specially, he reflected on his role in the setting up of the NIMC and the NHIS during his tenure as Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said:

“I want to recall that when I was in office, I launched the National identity Management Scheme, as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme. When we came to office in 1999, we found out that these were two schemes that had being in the opening for the past 40 years. And we felt that it was time for us to begin to implement those schemes by updating them, to meet the contemporary, and technological advances, in the world”.

He also chipped in some encouragement and advice to NIMC:

“…I also believe that it is time to expand your capacity, to be able to enroll all Nigerians, on the National Identity Card Scheme. This is because it has become imperative for us to identify every Nigerian nowadays, because we have a number of social challenges that will require identification wherever you may be. Again, the international community is becoming more integrated. I believe the scheme will enable Nigerians to be integrated with the rest of the international body. Therefore, let me appeal to the government to make it a matter of necessity. First of all, to expand the capacity of the National Identity Management scheme, so that all Nigerians can be captured in that scheme. This will enable us identify Nigerians where ever they may be, and also, even account for them”.

Some members of NIMC management were also on hand to pay their courtesies during the enrolment.