Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday said if Nigeria wants a rapid economic development ,then there is the need to develop a rich data base that will contain the data and economic profile of every citizen.
He said part of the problem the nation is facing in its national life is the absence of an efficient data base or personality profile of every Nigerian.
Ogbeni Aregbesola stated these while playing host to the new state coordinator of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Mrs Omolara Idah who paid him a courtesy visit at the government house Osogbo.
He said the absence of a reliable data base for every Nigerian has made it difficult to effectively manage the financial transactions of Nigerians.
Aregbesola ,who explained that Nigerians are difficult to trace because of the absence of an harmonized data base, added that it has made it difficult for people to obtain loan facilities from banks and other financial institutions.
According to the Governor, “If we have an accurate information about Nigerians well stored that can be accesed at any time, then banks and other financial institutions that deal on trust will find it easy dealing with more Nigerians.
“Financial institutions will not be at a loss in trying to meet up with requests for facilities that people need to do business because they know that nobody can escape detection.
“Farmers and other artisans are mostly affected in this regard simply because most of them are not educated, they find it hard to access loans.
“If we want a rapid economic development of our economy as a nation ,then we need to develop and harmonize all data collection institutions in the country.
“Part of the predicament of our national life is the absence of an efficient data base personality profile of Nigerians both home and abroad”. He maintained.
The Governor then hinted the state coordinator of the NIMC that the state government is already doing something concerning collection of data of the people in Osun, explaining that it will be harmonized with that of the federal government so that people won’t need to carry too many identification cards around.
Earlier in her address, the state NIMC coordinator, Mrs Omolara Idah commended the state governor for the efforts taken on data gathering for inhabitants of the state.
While commending the governor on the infrastructural development of the state, Mrs Idah also lauded the state government in data gathering for its citizens.
“I commend you on efforts in trying to turn the fortunes of this state around, one can really see that you are in a hurry to develop the state.
“I also must commend you data gathering for citizens of this state, I want to use this medium to inform members of the public to come out and register their data so that they can have their numbers for identification.”. Mrs Idah stated.
