Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has disclosed that over one million residents of Kaduna have so far obtained the residency card introduced by the state government.
Speaking during the official flag-off the state residency card programme at Miyetti Allah Primary Health Centre, Rigasa, the governor explained that the decision to introduce the card was to help the state government in planning for its social and economic programmes in future.
He said successive governments have over the years failed to use accurate data in planning, noting that, this had led to guess work and incurate data.
For instance, he disclosed, “the overcrowded school in Rigasa made national headlines after we revealed its existence. But how did one primary school in Rigasa come about having more than 20,000 pupils
The governor explained that while the National Identity card is to identify who are true Nigerians, the Kaduna residency card is to help the state government know who are residing in the state.
While acknowledging that no fewer than one million residents have so far obtained the residency card, he disclosed that there are 58 registration centres across the state established for the exercise.
“Three Mobile Enrolment Buses are also shuttling within Kaduna Metropolis, bringing the registration process to the elderly and persons living with physical disabilities.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure ease of access by scaling up the registration centres to 255 with one in each ward of our 23 Local Governments.
He also noted that, “Residents of Kaduna State should note that at in the near future, no citizen will enjoy some of our free or subsidized social services like basic education, healthcare or even be considered for land allocation unless he or she can provide a Kaduna State Residents Card
To this end, he called on religious leaders as well as traditional rulers to help in sensitising their people over the importance of obtaining the residency card.
Earlier, the Director General, National Identity Management Committee, Alhaji Aliyu Azeez remarked that it’s agency had captured 30.6 million Nigerians in its data base, saying, Kaduna alone has 1.6m people that were captured.
Enumerating the importance of data for national development, the DG maintained that it could be used by for security planning and poverty eradication, saying at the personal level it could be used to obtain international passport, bank account among others.
Azeez assured the resolve of the agency to capture every Nigerian in the next three years.
Highlight of the occasion included the issuance of certificate to the first person who obtained the residency card.
NATION
