What Next?

Operation Positive identification by the Nigerian Army has been suspended. A federal court sitting today in Lagos state ordered the suspension of the exercise pending the determination of the suit filed against it. The suit holds that the exercise is unconstitutional and a violation of citizens’ liberty. In the terror-troubled Northeast Nigeria, the Nigerian army introduced the exercise to help the troops identify terrorists and monitor the influx of persons in the region before aiming to extend it nationwide. This suggests soldiers will manually identify residents using either the national identity card, voters’ card, international passport or drivers’ license.

Despite arguments that the strategy appeared not have considered a large number of Nigerians without proper means of identification, it was largely considered a good step in the right direction. Currently, there is an unchecked influx of foreigners and migrants through the nation\’s porous and ineffectively policed borders. Out of an estimated 200 million people, only about 37 million can be identified using the National Identity Number (NIN) which is about 18.5 per cent of the population. Also, with 84 million registered voters, more than half of the estimated population cannot be identified.

The court order puts a stop to the success of the exercise in monitoring movement of persons in the region. The Nigerian government should put the exercise in the context of human rights to ensure that it does not undermine liberties people derive from the constitution. While the logic of identification is vital from the standpoint of securitising the nationwide, emphasis and awareness should be placed on two important cardinal points; effective border policing to checkmate movement of persons and goods, and also ensuring that all Nigerians including foreign nationals are captured in the national database. Trying to identify people may not necessarily pose legal questions, but what happens when someone cannot be identified due to lack of identification should be brought into perspective.

Policies and programmes often fail where there is no buy-in of the people. Before announcing the exercise, stakeholder’s engagement and meticulous citizens education would have illuminated the workability and modus operandi of the Operation Positive Identification. As respondents to the suit, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Nigerian Army and the Attorney-General of the Federation should come up with a robust defence detailing how the operation will achieve its stated objectives without infringing on people\’s rights and freedom.