The Kano State Coordinator, National Identity Management Commission [NIMC], Muhammad Auwalu, on Sunday said the NIMC required N150bn to capture all Nigerians in its database.

According to him, the government only budgeted N7bn for the commission for the assignment.

Auwalu, who spoke to reporters at the Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education in Kano, lamented that only 40,000 out of 200 million Nigerians had so far been captured in the national database.

He said the temporary National Identity Card was very important, adding that the identity card number was captured in it.

According to Anwalu, if the Federal Government gives the commission more money, it will capture all Nigerians within three years.

He warned that whoever refused to register for the National Identity Number risked a three-month jail term or N100,000 fine. The NIMC chief said they would soon commence the prosecution of defaulters.

He said,

“The agency will impose three months’ imprisonment or N100,000 fine on any Nigerian arrested without being registered.”

He said the main focus of the commission was to ensure that every Nigerian was registered.

Auwalu said,

“In accordance with the provisions of Section 27(1)(1) of the Commission Act, the use of the National Identity Number should be mandatory.

“In exercising its power of enforcement and compliance, the commission is empowered by law to demand evidence of compliance, so as to caution a non-compliant person.

“It also has the power to institute criminal proceedings against a non-compliant person through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.”

He said they had sought the World Bank’s assistance to finance the project.