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The Federal government has revealed intentions to simplify identity management in Nigeria by launching the Nigeria Data Exchange Platform (NGDX), a centralised system to reduce the inconvenience of citizens repeatedly submitting data to various agencies.
For years, Nigerians have experienced the annoyance of providing the same personal information and biometrics for services like registration for National Identification Number (NIN), driver’s licenses, Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), SIM card registration, and international passports.
The NGDX seeks to eliminate this redundancy by facilitating secure, efficient sharing of validated information across government agencies.
During a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), stated that the platform will function as a consolidated framework for identity and data validation.
“Thanks to the NGDX, individuals will not have to continually provide the same personal information whenever they engage with a government agency.” Authorised entities will be able to confirm and exchange records in the background effortlessly,” he clarified.
Reform Geared Towards the Transformation of Government Services
The reform aims to reduce expenses, expedite processes for citizens, and tackle inefficiencies within the public sector.
It will also aid businesses, especially fintechs and service providers, by facilitating quicker Know Your Customer (KYC) verifications. Also, it will provide them access to government-supported verification systems.
Inua also highlighted that the worth of NGDX extends beyond mere convenience. Permitting anonymised public data will create new avenues for innovation in healthcare, agriculture, fintech, and educational technology.
“The NGDX will create opportunities for startups and companies to develop solutions utilising anonymised public data to enhance healthcare services, boost agricultural efficiency, advance fintech innovations, and improve educational technology,” he stated.
He described the initiative as “crucial digital infrastructure.” He ranked it alongside Nigeria’s nationwide fibre optic deployment. Also, he highlighted its significance to the nation’s digital economy goals.
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Collaborating with Sister Agencies
To ensure successful deployment, NITDA is collaborating with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. They are also engaging with other vital stakeholders.
Furthermore, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, supported the initiative and described the NGDX as a vital framework for fostering innovation, enhancing collaboration. It added that the initiative is guaranteed to broaden the scope of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“NGDX will facilitate secure and effortless data sharing between government and business. This move is geared towards promoting innovation, collaboration, and inclusive economic growth. It will provide smarter and quicker services to citizens within a framework of privacy, security, and accountability,” he stated. He added that the NGDX is set to launch by late 2025.
