Nigeria’s communications minister Isa Pantami says Nigerians need the National Identity Number (NIN) for digital identity, describing it as the foundation of President Muhammadu Buhari regime’s digitisation project.

Mr Pantami, who spoke at the ninth edition of the ‘Digital Africa conference and exhibition’ on Monday, explained that since the commencement of the SIM-NIN linkage, over 56 million Nigerians had enrolled.

The minister, who spoke on ‘Building a New Africa with Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain,’ said it was vital to ensure the privacy of online transitions as Nigeria switched to digital platforms.

“With the transition to digital platforms, it is crucial that we ensure privacy and the safety of online transitions. This is the focus of Soft Infrastructure pillar,” Mr Pantami said. “Digital identity is foundational to any digitisation efforts, and we have actively encouraged citizens to obtain their National Identity Numbers (NIN), and there are now over 56 million enrolments.”

According to him, monthly enrolment has had a 500 per cent increase and “a remarkable increase in the number of enrolment centres” across the country.

He further pointed out, “Privacy concerns that result from digitisation are also being addressed in the Soft Infrastructure pillar, through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Guidelines for the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions 2020.”

Mr Pantami stressed that “we understand the importance of supporting homegrown innovation, and this has been addressed in the Indigenous Content Development and Adoption pillar. We developed a National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications to support this goal.”

He reiterated that the “stimulation of innovation and the effective harnessing of emerging technologies is central to addressing the African continent’s demands” in sustainable development and economic growth.

“Africa has the opportunity to harness the digital technologies as a key driver of growth and innovation,” Mr Pantami stated.

He also recommended expanding broadband infrastructure to ensure the national and regional development of Africa.

“We need to expand broadband infrastructure, provide our citizens with digital skills, and provide the enabling environment for our digital entrepreneurs to thrive, amongst others.

“It is therefore imperative that we work together towards achieving our national and regional development plans in building the Africa we want,” Mr Pantami added.