February 2020

A Nigerian in Diaspora, Mr Haruna Idris, has called on other Nigerians in Diaspora to advocate for improved data collection and documentation in the country.

Idris made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

He restated the importance of data to every nation, saying that Nigeria lacked an efficient data system which had resulted in setback for the people and the nation at large.

Idris said with adequate data, the recent Visa restriction of Nigerians by the American Government, Boko Haram attack, insecurity issues, terrorism, corruption, unemployment, social vices among others could be addressed.

According to him, the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), introduced by President Olusegun Obasanjo is key to an efficient data system in the country.

He said BRISIN, if implemented would ensure accurate data system that was devoid of speculations and falsehood.

“ The news from international organisation says we have 25 million people living with disability without proper care and over 60 per cent of Nigerians are living in poverty; Speculations.

“Is it not time we know who is who and what is what in Nigeria? Is it not time we start building Nigerian data and information system called BRISIN?

“We adopted this as our system since 2007, why have we not implemented it? The FCT pilot was to start since, and they have been budgeting for it.

“I think if President Muhammadu Buhari actually wants to curb corruption, create employment and stop Boko Haram in Nigeria, he should implement BRISIN.

“I read the proposal of Dr Anthony Uwa on Board of Data Governance and I personally think it’s a big boost to the Government.

“All of us in the Diaspora will certainly play our part if called upon as Nigeria is our country and our joy is to see it working with credibility,’’ he said.

Idris said the visa restriction by the President of the United State of America, Donald Trump, on the giant of Africa (Nigerian) was a friendly action to help Nigeria do what is right for its country.

According to him, Nigeria is considered a rich country in Africa, but no one can tell where the wealth is, its economic value and impact on its citizen.

He said: “We have all speculated claims full of falsehood, and want countries that took time to organise themselves to accept us with false documents.

“They have been doing it all these while just to pity us, believing that allowing us to stay in their organised system we would have learnt from them to build our own system.

“Rather we continued to remain in the state of helplessness, Ignorance, shamelessness, and stupidity, only to wake up and talk when the reality faces us.

“The North East of Nigeria is almost taken by foreigners and we have become refugees in our own country, I urge President Buhari to give immediate order for the full implementation of BRISIN for the benefit of Nigerian.

“ I am also calling on all Nigerians in Diaspora to add their voice to this to avoid further embarrassment to the country.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO CORRECT THE ANOMALY

Nigerian government were told in the year 2000 that if the instrument of data governance was not created in Nigeria, it would be very difficult to meet up with developmental trends.

President Olusegun Obasanjo at the G8 meeting in Italy requested to understand why data governance is so important and what to do to create data governance in Nigeria.

The synonym used to simplify language understanding was e-government, this as we know did not detailed the fundamental platform for data governance, so Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria BRISIN, was introduced to him by group of solution providers led by Dermo Impex of Italy.

A lengthy process that took almost 6 years to understand how this single instrument can resolve all ailment of a nation like Nigeria, with various ethnic, religious, tribal, and other sentiments, outside national vices like Terrorism, internal criminality, unemployment, health and education, and mostly documentation issues. Mr President, taking the bold step to run all necessary due diligence, and due process requested the for Series of consultations and presentation at all MDAs and finally Nigerian Government sent technical experts to Italy to have on the ground knowledge and experience on how it works in Italy and whether it would fit Nigerian multi problematic situations

At the return of the team led by the Statistician general of the Federation Dr Vincent Akinyosoye, that President Obasanjo gave provisional approval, and the visionary Minister of FCT now Governor of Kaduna State budgeted to start the pilot in FCT.

In 2007 the Hon Minister/Deputy Chairman of National Planning (Senator Walli) presented it to Federal Executive Council (FEC) and it was ratified and approved for implementation in Nigeria

WHAT IS IT THAT SECURITY PROBLEM AND VISA BAN LACK IN COMMON?

The answer is   BRISIN IMPLEMENTATION  

For the delay in BRISIN implementation, Nigeria has the problem of Security, among other things and now the embarrassment of international credibility on data and information making our documents like passport and I.D cards not credible

Looking at what Nigeria could have achieved if the implementation of BRISIN was not delayed;

• Data on every human being in Nigeria should have been known and his or her activities would be monitored
• All foreigners in Nigeria should have been known and their activities monitors
• Nigerian economy should have been known and monitored and controlled
• Crime should have been reduced to minimum and it should have been easy to identify criminals
• Terrorist would have left Nigeria because Security Agents should have used the data and information shared to fish out any terrorist
• Employment would have been massive in every aspect of the economy
• Every income earner, should have been paying Tax
• VAT should have been the hub for internal generated revenue and every commercial and economic operator should have been paying
• Health and Education should have regained their quality in Nigeria
• Social welfare would have received commendations
• Investors should have been flooding Nigeria on every aspect of our economy
• Government credibility would have reach the sky
• Nigerians in the Diaspora would have channelling their investment towards Nigeria
• African Nations would have been coming to Nigeria to help develop their economy
• The would would start respecting Nigeria.

CAN NIGERIA AFFORD THE CONTINUOUS DELAY OF BRISIN IMPLEMENTATION?

Today a leap in the right direction comes from the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development another reason for urgent use of BRISIN system as a base for data governance and achieve their mandate

To avoid further embarrassment, an immediate national board of data governance need to be constituted with BRISIN as their reference point, and the NSA, Hon, Ministers of Interior, Humanitarian Affairs, Science & Technology and Finance as institutional Members. The SG of NBS, 5 experts from the private sectors and 3 from Academia to be members.

While the office of SGF assume the responsibility to lead in the coordination of BRISIN implementation in Nigeria

Dr Anthony Uwa

Head of BRISIN implementation in Nigeria.