Nigeria’s New Tinted Glass Permit: A Needless Biometric Data Grab?
On June 2, 2022, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) rolled out the Police Specialised Services Automation Project (POSSAP), an online platform designed to simplify access to various police services. Touted as a stride towards greater transparency and efficiency in police operations, POSSAP aims to streamline processes for services like obtaining Police Character Certificates, Tint Permits, and specialised escort services. However, this new digital initiative, which mandates the submission of biometric data such as fingerprints for certain applications, has ignited a crucial debate, particularly regarding data redundancy in a nation already saturated with digital identification systems.
The Question of Biometric Duplication and Integration
The introduction of POSSAP, with its requirement for fresh biometric data collection, raises significant concerns about Nigeria’s fragmented approach to digital identity management. The country already boasts a multitude of robust biometric databases, including the National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and passport biometrics, among others. Each of these systems captures unique personal identifiers, making the rationale behind yet another standalone biometric collection for police services highly questionable. Instead of leveraging and integrating existing national biometric infrastructure, POSSAP appears to be creating another silo of sensitive personal data. This approach not only burdens citizens with repeated data submissions but also prompts a critical inquiry: why isn’t the government focused on unifying these disparate biometric systems into a cohesive national digital identity framework, rather than perpetually adding new, seemingly redundant layers? The launch event itself, attended by key figures like Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman, Minister of Police Affairs Dr. Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi, and Permanent Secretary Temitope Fashedemi, alongside Dr. David Ibhawoh of POSSAP Solutions Ltd and Chairman Mohammed Ciroma, underscored the high-level backing for a system that many argue overlooks a fundamental opportunity for cross-agency data harmonisation.
While the Nigeria Police Force’s intention to enhance transparency and efficiency through POSSAP is commendable, its implementation strategy, particularly the insistence on new biometric data collection, warrants scrutiny. In an era where data privacy and seamless digital integration are paramount, the proliferation of separate biometric databases without a clear strategy for unification presents a missed opportunity for a truly efficient and citizen-centric digital governance model. It compels a re-evaluation of Nigeria’s overarching digital identity strategy, urging a shift from fragmented data collection to a unified approach that optimises existing resources and reduces citizen burden.
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