Nigerian woman born without fingerprints recounts struggles with biometric systems

A Nigerian woman, known on Instagram as J for Jidds, has detailed the significant challenges she faces due to being born without fingerprints. Her experience highlights the pervasive reliance on biometric identification in daily life and the obstacles encountered by those who cannot conform.

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I stayed there the whole day with my dad. I watched over 200 people register before me. It was, I cried.

Her difficulties began during her first Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination registration in 2017. Officials struggled for hours to capture her fingerprints, a process that should have been routine. Jidds described the ordeal as frustrating, involving attempts with various substances like sand and spirit, and even scrubbing her hand on a stone to achieve a readable impression.

The issues extended beyond registration. She faced problems during examinations, where biometric systems sometimes recognized her upon entry but failed to authenticate her exit. "Sometimes I would be able to thumbprint in and I will not be able to thumbprint out," she said, illustrating the inconsistency and anxiety this causes.

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I had to scrub my hand on a stone at a point. And then I got to register.

This biometric hurdle has impacted various aspects of her life, including her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program and banking. She revealed that during her NYSC, she had to resort to using her foot for verification because the ridges on her toes were also faint. "Living in Nigeria without fingerprints has been, has been terrible, honestly. From NYSC to JAMB to the bank, to any other thing that needs biometrics. I always have anxiety, It has been frustrating," she stated.

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Sometimes I would be able to thumbprint in and I will not be able to thumbprint out.

Jidds initially believed she was unique in Nigeria until a light-hearted Instagram post revealed a widespread issue. Nearly a hundred people contacted her, sharing similar experiences with the rare condition known as adermatoglyphia, characterized by absent or greatly reduced fingerprints.

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Living in Nigeria without fingerprints has been, has been terrible, honestly. From NYSC to JAMB to the bank, to any other thing that needs biometrics. I always have anxiety, It has been frustrating.