An Ilorin based Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) under the aegis of Association of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (ACCON), has condemned what it called multiplicity of biometric data collection in the country.

The Group stated this on Thursday in Ilorin in a statement signed by its national chairman, Mr Ademola Johnson with copy made available to THE UNION.

Johnson said issuing national identity card and other biometric embedded cards to an individual by agencies other than the constitutionally recognized National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC), would compromise national security and endanger individual concerned.

According to him, these activities carried out by private agencies other than agencies of Government may lead to undue leakage of vital information about the country to foreigners.

He said most of the private agencies; ministries, Governments, MDAs involved in biometric data collection awarded the projects to expatriate contractors thereby exposing the nation and its nationals' data to foreign powers.

Johnson said the current practice whereby various bodies issue their different biometric data cards like ATM, Driver's license, Voter's Card, International Passport and Census Registration Card of same data to an individual was uncalled for.

"Biometric Database of any individual is scientific, unique and usually taken once in a life time globally to serve multipurpose functions be it socio-economic, political or security.

"When Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan relaunched the National Identity Card; he used the card to withdraw cash at ATM point and made purchase at a market stall. "What edge then do Bank ATM, Driver's license, Voter's card, Census registration card, international passport and others have over the National Identity Card?", Johnson queried.

He called on the Federal Government to put stop to the activities of agencies other than NIMC involved in the exercise such as the on- going Bank Verification Number (BVM), Passport office, Ministries and agencies.