In recent decades, the biometrics industry has experienced real progress in Africa, undoubtedly driven by governments and international organizations. This much appreciated development stems from a concern for efficiency.
The National Identification Agency (ANID) of Togo will proceed from October to a biometric census operation of the population. The information was made public on Wednesday, August 30, by ANID during a press conference aimed at presenting the project to the media.
The project should last seven months, one month per region, and two months for Grand-Lomé, the most populated region in the country.
” Faced with this digital transformation, the identification, or the attribution of a unique identification number (NIU) to any natural person becomes the necessary condition”, indicated Silété Devo, the director general of ANID.
The campaign, whose budget is estimated at 72 million dollars, is partly financed by the World Bank within the framework of a regional project called WURI ( West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion ). It takes into account Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Niger and Ivory Coast.
In Togo, the objective is to carry out the digital identification of 95% of the population. This will involve registering each citizen with their biometric markers. In particular, the first and last name, photo, fingerprints and irises will be taken into account.
Ultimately, a unique identification number (NIU), an unintelligible 12-digit code, will be issued to Togolese residents, nationals and foreigners (present in the territory for more than six months). It is expected to streamline government services, improve the identification process and give citizens a robust digital identity, propelling Togo further into the digital agehttps.
