An appraisal of the 2003 national identity card implementation in Nigeria: Towards the development of an effective system

• Main Author: Sampson, Sunday George
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: National characteristics, Nigerian; System identification; Identification cards > Nigeria; Development Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1242; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_doctoral/article/2243/viewcontent/CDTG004381_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This research was done to appraise the effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian National Identity Card System implemented in February 2003. The study specifically sought to find out how successful and effective the exercise was, and what factors were responsible for its success or ineffectiveness. The study analyzed the legal framework the actual implementation of the registration exercise and its mechanics and the general problematique of the Registration and the Identity card scheme. The imperatives of national identity system in Nigeria were also established in the light of current interest and controversies. A multi-method approach research design was adopted utilizing a survey and the conduct of Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and interviews to collect data.. A total of 250 participants comprising top management staff the Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR), registration officials, and citizens were involved in the discussions, interviews, and survey. Document including publications and reports on the exercise were also reviewed to provide more materials for the study. The results showed that, though the majority of the population accepted the scheme, a significant minority raised objections and concerns regarding the intensions of government and the utilisation of the scheme. The results also showed that there were lapses in the policy, principally in the legal provisions and the implementation structure. It also emerged that both the officials and the citizens were dissatisfied with the actual registration exercise due to inadequate facilities. Recommendations were made in t iii he areas of the policy framework, and the implementation process, including a proposed structure that is expected to make the scheme more effective in Nigeria and for possible replication in other countries in similar circumstances.