Connect with us

E-Business

Overview of Biometric Identification System in Nigeria

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Technological advancement has created and promoted inventions through innovations in cyber-culture, cyber-security, science, defense, communication methods, education, healthcare, business, etc.

Today, for the ease of identification of individuals, Biometric system of identification has also been developed through is one of technological breakthrough introduced as a result of the revolution and expansion in science and technology.

The increasing cyber crime going on and other security issues gave an impetus for the birth of Biometric identification systems for the authentication of identity and recognition of various characteristics and processes.

Implementation of a Biometric system of identification plays a significant role in controlling physical access to a working environment or other highly sensitive area. It is the most efficient and highly secure means for the identification of users and provides the best protection technique to ensure both, data and cyber security. It helps in the reduction of fraud and criminal activities.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is saddled with the Biometric registration of Nigerians for proper identification has been on it for a number of years now, however, not much has been achieved in capturing the citizen’s data with the follow up of issuing the National ID card.

Many people have filled the Biometric forms but have not had any feedback on the issuance of the National ID cards for upwards of two, three years or more. With every Nigerian captured on the registration system, it will be easy to differentiate between Nigerians and aliens living in Nigeria. It will also assist security personnel in the resolution of crimes.

On the other hand, however, Nigerian banks, at the instance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also embarked on the Biometric registration of all their customers. Today, all commercial bank customers, old and new, are already captured on the Biometric registration.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Biometric registration of all bank customers has aided the law enforcement agents in apprehending and bringing financial criminals to book u dear this present government. Before the Biometric identification registration was introduced to the issuance of Driving Licence in Nigeria, there were many fake Driving Licence in the possession of many drivers in the country and this was dangerous for the populace. Today, you can verify the authenticity of a Drivers Licence by calling the number up on the National database.

Aside the significance of Biometric identification, Nigerians need to know what it comprises of, its components, its features and techniques of collection.

Biometric systems are composed of automated programs that provide identification of various physiological and behavioral characteristics of a person such as fingerprints, retina, signature, etc.

Such systems collect data through sensors, build a biometric impression and store it to verify personal traits and characteristics for identification purpose. Whenever a person passes through a biometric check, the system compares the information obtained from that check with the one already recorded during the registration process.

For an identification system to be said to be Biometric, it has to possess some properties. It must be able of decipher certain things. One of these properties is that the system must be able to decipher the uniqueness of the features of individuals. The fact is that every person in the world has his or her own unique features, traits and characteristics, and these can never be duplicated as no two individuals in the world have the same features. Not even a set of identical twins or triplets do.

No two thumbprints are the same. Another property that a Biometric system should possess is Permanence. All the features of a person must be constant over a period of time. The only thing that can alter any feature is if an accident occurred, e.g., the severance of an arm in an accident.

A person with no beard when he was registered under a Biometric system, but has now grown one after sometime, however, still has the same features underneath the beard.

Another feature is Collectability. This means that all the relevant features of an individual must be collectible and collected and measured in quantitative terms.

A Biometric system must also be seen to be credible by not being susceptible to fraudulent manipulations. Some other performance indicators for a Biometric system are efficiency and accuracy.

A typical biometric system comprises of some components and processes. These include the following:

Sensor:  This is a device that collects or detects data or trait, and converts it into a digital format.

Signal Processing Algorithms: These are Quality Control Performers that manipulate the signals received into a biometric template.

Data Storage: The data gotten from the Biometric registration are stored for preservation. From here, it can be retrieved at any time for comparison with the subject being identified.

Matching Algorithm: This refers to the comparison of a newly formed biometric template with the one or more templates created from the previously stored information in data storage.

Decision Process: Results obtained from the matching algorithms are used to make a decision that is either assisted by a person or automated. It is a system level decision.

Some of the techniques of capturing Biometric identification include the following:

Facial Recognition: This is the Biometric system used for the recognition and identification of the human face in order to allow for distinguishing one person from another. Facial expressions are also considered for facial recognition. The area of the face captured in this case include the forehead, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the lips, chin, neck and a little below the shoulder. Pictures and thermals are used for this purpose.

Fingerprint Reading:  Each individual possess a unique set of fingerprints. No two individuals have the same fingerprints. Fingerprints are recognized by the different patterns of ridges, valleys and minutiae points present on the surface of fingers. These are captured with the help of a sensor for each individual for Biometric identification purposes.

Iris Recognition: The Iris of each individual also possesses unique patterns and color. A sensor also captures this for Biometric identification purposes. In some very high security areas in Europe and America, access to some sensitive areas can only be made through Iris Recognition.

Voice Recognition: The vocal tract of an individual is also unique. This is why it is easy to know  the voice of someone you know talking without seeing that person. A sensor also captures this and it is used mostly for voice recognition and verification.

Hand Geometry Recognition: This is a Biometric technique in which various features of the hand, such as the width of hand and length of fingers are considered for identifying an individual.

Signature Recognition:  Identification of an individual is done by analyzing signatures made by every person.

Veins Recognition: One revolutionary Biometric identification system is the use of different patterns of veins in a human body for identification of that person.

DNA Matching: Another revolutionary Biometric identification technique used in identifying a person is on the basis of unique characteristics of the the DNA of that person.

NIMC should buckle up and ensure that all Nigerians are speedily captured on the Biometric identification system so we can identify who is a Nigerian and who is not.

CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television

 

 
 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Business

Court orders Binance to release data of Nigerian Users to EFCC

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Binance Holdings Limited has been ordered by Justice Emeka Nwite of a federal high court sitting in Abuja to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

The order was granted following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho. In the motion deposed to by Hamma Bello, an operative of the EFCC attached to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), he stated that they “received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.”

He added; “That on receipt of the Intelligence, the team began investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 (twenty one billion, six hundred million dollars).

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others. That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time.”

Bello also said that it is utmost urgent public interest, that the data be provided to enable the commission accomplish its investigation activities. He said refusal of the request woulf largely hamper the commission’s investigation.

Granting the application, Justice Nwite said; “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February, 2024, is hereby granted as prayed. That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Moove Unveils ‘N500M Moove Cares Program’ for All Customers in Nigeria

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Moove, the world’s first mobility fintech platform, has announced the launch of its ‘Moove Cares’ program, introducing a substantial support package aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of ongoing inflationary prices in Nigeria.

Recognising the challenges posed by rising fuel prices for its customers managing their businesses and the additional burden of inflationary food prices on household budgets, Moove is providing support both at work and at home. This program includes fuel subsidies to assist with business operations and a comprehensive care package to support households during these difficult times.

This program underscores Moove’s dedication to ensuring its positive impact in the lives of its customers, especially against the backdrop of Nigeria’s challenging and chronic economic landscape.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is grappling with an acute cost of living crisis and food prices, exacerbated by a confluence of factors including severe inflation, currency fluctuations, and logistical disruptions. This crisis has pushed essential food items beyond the reach of many, with the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics reporting a staggering 35.41% food inflation rate in January 2024 alone.

In the wake of the removal of the fuel subsidy in May, fuel prices in Nigeria have soared to an all-time high, reaching N610 per litre, marking a significant increase from the previously subsidised price of N264 per litre in March 2023.

This sharp increase of fuel costs by 131% has had a ripple effect across various sectors, notably leading to increased transportation fares and a substantial hike in the prices of food and other essential goods.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, Moove has committed to distributing free-of-charge ‘Moove Cares’ packages worth over N150,000 to each of its customers. Starting next week, the program aims to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices and escalating food prices, particularly during the critical periods of Easter and Ramadan celebrations.

‘Moove Cares’ is a testament to Moove’s proactive approach towards corporate social responsibility and customer focused support in these challenging times for the country.

Taiwo Ajibola, Moove’s Regional Managing Director for Nigeria, elaborated on the program objectives, “As a listening organisation, we understand from our customers’ feedback the pressing need for support amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting both fuel and food prices.

“Our Moove Cares program is our small way of providing some much needed support to our customers amidst this extremely challenging economic  environment.”

Since its inception in 2020, Moove has been at the forefront of democratising access to financial services for mobility entrepreneurs. With a presence in 9 markets globally, Moove’s innovative platform has facilitated over 30 million trips, significantly impacting the lives of 80,000 of its customers and their dependents.

As Nigeria navigates through these turbulent economic times, the ‘Moove Cares’ campaign stands as a vital lifeline for Moove’s customers, further solidifying the Company’s position as a socially responsible leader in the mobility fintech sector.

Through this comprehensive support package, Moove reaffirms its dedication to fostering a resilient and thriving community, capable of overcoming the current economic challenges.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Nigeria’s inflation rate rises to 31.7 %

Published

on

Kindly share this post

A report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the headline inflation in the country increased to 31.7 per cent in February 2024 from 29.9 per cent recorded in January 2024.

The recent figure is the highest level of inflation recorded in the country for 28 years. In the Consumer Price Index report for February 2024, it was also stated that food inflation increased to 37.92 per cent in February from 35.41 per cent in January 2024.

It read; “In February 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 31.70% relative to the January 2024 headline inflation rate, which was 29.9%. Looking at the movement, the February 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.8 % points when compared to the January 2024
headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the headline inflation rate was 9.79% points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2023, which was 21.91%.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (YoY basis) increased in the month of February 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2023).

“Furthermore, on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the headline inflation rate in February 2024 was 3.12%, which was 0.48% higher than the rate recorded in January 2024 (2.64%).

“This means that in February 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is more than the rate of increase in the average price level in January 2024.

“The food inflation rate in February 2024 was 37.92% on a YoY basis, which was 13.57% points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2023 (24.35%).

“The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in the prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, oil and fat, meat, fruit, coffee, tea, and cocoa.

“On a MoM basis, the food inflation in February 2024 was 3.79%; this was 0.58% higher compared to the rate recorded in January 2024 (3.21%).

“In February 2024, food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi (46.32%), Rivers (44.34%), and Kwara (43.5%), while Bauchi (31.46%), Plateau (32.56%), and Taraba (33.23%) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.

“On a MoM basis, however, February 2024 food inflation was highest in Adamawa (5.61%), Yobe (5.60%), and Borno (5.60%), while Cross River (2.08%), Niger (2.56%), and Abuja (2.60%) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a MoM basis.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending