National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Nigeria has issued almost 98.7 million National Identification Numbers (NIN) to Nigerians, leaving it around 1.29 million away from reaching the 100 million mark. According to NIMC, 56 million men, which is about 56.7% of men in the country, have received NINs, while 42.7 million women, or about 43.3%, have them. Lagos State has the highest cumulative enrolment figure of over 10.8 million, with Kano following next with 8.6 million NINs.
The bottom 10 states are Kogi with 1.68 million NINs; Akwa Ibom 1.62 million; Imo 1.66 million; Enugu 1.58 million; Yobe 1.5 million; Taraba 1.43 million; Cross River 1.12 million; Ekiti 998,685; Ebonyi 789,056 and Bayelsa 623,902 identification numbers. The NIMC began charging NIN verification fees for each Nigerian passport application since April 1, 2023, following a framework agreement with the Nigerian Immigration Service to improve the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through the timely verification of NIN.
ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests two suspects for concealing cannabis in garri sack
The applicable NIN verification fee in Nigeria is N1,000; in African countries, $5, while in other countries, it is $15. Various sectors, including education, telecommunications, and public services, now require an NIN for all their services. In 2022, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) made NIN mandatory for school certificate examination registration, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) requires it for obtaining driver’s licenses. Subscribers also cannot procure new Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) cards at any telecoms outlet without presenting the NIN, while the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) also requires an identity number.
The NIMC said the effective and seamless integration and harmonisation of existing databases, processes, and procedures into a single identity management system and infrastructure remains the strategic approach towards achieving the harmonisation objectives.
