IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author): “Whether identification cards were issued by the Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR) in May 2001, in Imo State; date at which these identification cards were introduced; information contained on the identification cards; and the address of the DNCR office listed on a card belonging to a resident of Imo State [NGA41948.E]”, Document #1274842

Whether identification cards were issued by the Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR) in May 2001, in Imo State; date at which these identification cards were introduced; information contained on the identification cards; and the address of the DNCR office listed on a card belonging to a resident of Imo State [NGA41948.E]

The Information Attaché at the Nigerian High Commission, in Ottawa, reported that, although planned for several years, National Identification Cards did not start being issued until early this year (2 Sept. 2003). The Attaché added that at no other time were identification cards issued by individual states (2 Sept. 2003).

Government sources refer to the Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR) as being in charge of implementing the National Identity Card programme (Nigeria 14 Apr. 2003; Nigeria 18 Feb. 2003; see also Vanguard 13 May 2003). The registration programme, which had been in the planning stages since the DNCR was established in 1979 (Vanguard 13 May 2003; Nigeria 18 Feb. 2003; IRIN 4 Mar. 2003; Daily Trust 18 Feb. 2003), eventually commenced on 18 February 2003 (Nigeria 18 Feb. 2003; IRIN 4 Mar. 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Daily Trust [Abuja] 18 February 2003. "Obasanjo Flags Off ID Card Programme." http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200302190194.html [Accessed 2 Sept. 2003]

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 4 March 2003. "Nigeria: IRIN Focus on National Registration Programme." http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=32630 [Accessed 2 Sept. 2003]

Nigeria. 2 September 2003. Nigerian High Commission, Ottawa. Interview with Information Attaché.

_____. 14 April 2003. "1.5 Billion Naira Released for the Payment of DNCR Ad Hoc Staff for ID Card Project." (Press Release No. 275) http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/Press%20Release%20April/No%20275%20of%20April%2014th,%202003.htm [Accessed 2 Sept. 2003]

_____. 18 February 2003. Presidential Research and Communication Unit. "National Identity Card Scheme Takes Off." http://www.nigeriafirst.org/printer_240.shtml [Accessed 2 Sept. 2003]

Vanguard [Lagos]. 13 May 2003. Alhaji Mohammed Shatta. "National ID Card'll Make Planning Easy." http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/politics_premium/p313052003.html [Accessed 2 Sept. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Research Bulletin

Europa World Yearbook

IRB Databases

Keesing's

Internet sites, including:

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

BBC Africa

Daily Champion

Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Guardian (Lagos)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Motherland Nigeria

New Nigerian

Newswatch Nigeria

Nigeria Daily

UK Immigration and Nationality Department

US Department of State

Search engine:

Google

Associated documents

Document ID 1274842 Related / Associated
3 September 2003 | IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Nigeria

Whether identification cards were issued by the Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR) in May 2001, in Imo State; date at which these identification cards were introduced; information contained on the identification cards; and the address of the DNCR office listed on a card belonging to a resident of Imo State [NGA41948.E]
Whether identification cards were issued by the Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR) in May 2001, in Imo State; date at which these identification cards were introduced; information contained on the identification cards; and the address of the DNCR office listed on a card belonging to a resident of Imo State [NGA41948.E] (Response, French)
fr ID 1101408

ecoi.net description:: Whether identification cards were issued by the Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR) in May 2001, in Imo State; date at which these identification cards were introduced; information contained on the identification cards; and the address of the DNCR office listed on a card belonging to a resident of Imo State [NGA41948.E]

Country:: Nigeria
Source:: IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Published:: 3 September 2003
Document type:: Response
Language:: English
Document ID:: 1274842 (former ID 188175)