NIMC to deploy verification software to insurance firms

… to enhance security

Following its mandate to become the leading Identity Management Agency in Nigeria, The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that it has concluded all arrangements to deploy its Verification Service (NVS) to the insurance and pension management companies.

According to the NIMC, the NVS software, which was developed by the Business Development and Commercial Services (BDCS) of the Commission has a history of successful implementation and adoption by some financial institutions in the country.

While making a live demonstration of the software on two separate fora, before an assembly of Insurance and Pension Management companies, the team leader, Mr. Olushola Amurawaiye said that the software can be integrated with existing ones on a two- client – interfaces – the Stand alone Desktop version and the online Web version to enable insurance and pension management companies to have access to NIMC’s database to verify to authenticity of the National Identity Number (NIN) presented by a client.

He said,”The NVS can be incorporated into the existing organisations owned software using the NVS’ Application Programme Interface (API).

“At the point of query, data generated by the NVS to the organisation making such request is limited by the access levels granted by NIMC, and the levels range from 1 to 5, depending on the kind and sensitivity of the identity data to be accessed.”

According to him,“Authorized users can generate data from the NVS using the enrollee NIN only; demographics only; e-ID card only; Document Number only; biometrics only or both biometrics and NIN.”

He further said that the insurance companies, when they come on board, can apply for desired access rights and privileges, which determine what category of verification they are allowed to conduct on an individual and what category of data they are allowed to view.
He added that the NVS uses a secure, Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to NIMC’s database, for security purposes.

The Deputy General Manager of the BDCS Department, Mrs. Carolyn Folami, during the presentation, noted that NIMC is fully committed to its mandate to be a one- stop shop for identity management in Nigeria, as well a,s regulate the identity sector and all transactions related to identity.

She stated that part of NIMC’s mandate is to collaborate with all institutions, including the Insurance sector , to ensure that the National Identification Number (NIN), is used for all transactions.

The DGM stressed the importance of the National Identity Management System, and the need to harmonise insurance companies’ databases with the National Identity Database (NIDB), adding that an insurance applet, although yet to be activated, is also included on the National e-ID Card.

According to her, the API for the NIMC Verification Service (NVS) is already deployed in some financial institutions like the banks, who can query the system on over 17 million people who have enrolled for NIN and have had their details captured on the National database

The presentation fora, which was organised by the Business Development and Commercial Services (BDCS) Department, at the Training Centre of the NIMC headquarters, Abuja, had in attendance, NICON Insurance Plc, Great Nigerian insurance Plc, Joy Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Custodian Life Insurance Plc, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), SIGMA Pensions Ltd, Pension Alliance Ltd, among other firms.