Over a four-week period that began on 18 February, every Nigerian aged 18 years and above is required to register for a national identity card. According to officials of the Department of National Civic Registration, which is in charge of the programme, at least 60 million Nigerians are estimated to be eligible for registration. The main objective of issuing identity cards to Nigerians, according to the government, is to create a national database of information, that will aid effective government.