It acts as a sworn statement confirming your personal details, origin, and existence.
When is it used?
This is commonly used in rural areas where official IDs are scarce, or by individuals who have lost their wallet containing all forms of identification. It is also used during recruitment into the armed forces or civil service to prove state of origin when an Indigeneship Certificate is pending. It helps in establishing a legal footprint for the individual.
Requirements
The affidavit generally requires the deponent to state their full name, place of birth, parentage, and sometimes attach a passport photograph which the Commissioner for Oaths will stamp/endorse. This endorsed photo serves as the visual link between the paper document and the physical person, acting as a temporary substitute for a plastic ID card.