The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to introduce a general multipurpose National Identity Number (NIN) card, which Nigerians will be required to pay for through financial institutions.
During a media briefing in Abuja at the weekend, the Director General of the Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, revealed that the NIN database has reached 107,338,044, reflecting a growth of 3.2 million from the 104 million reported at the end of last year.
Coker-Odusote stated, “Just like how you pay to access your ATM cards in the banks, Nigerians will pay through the banks to access their cards within 48 hours. We are partnering with Afrigo to ensure seamless delivery of cards to citizens after payment to get the digital multipurpose card.”
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She explained that applicants for the card will have to request it with their NIN through a self-service online portal or the banks, insisting that NIN registration remains free for citizens of the country.
The NIMC boss emphasized the Commission’s commitment to improving service delivery to Nigerians, noting that the prices for its services would be reviewed, albeit not exorbitantly.
“We are going to review our rate. It is not going to be much, but it will be reviewed. We have not reviewed our rate for a long time. It is not going to be exorbitant,” she said.
Coker-Odusote also disclosed that the Commission is revamping its systems, implementing cutting-edge technologies to upgrade its outdated equipment, and cracking down on fraudsters and extortionists.
“All we are trying to do is to ensure that we provide a robust service for Nigerian citizens and legal residents. And to ensure that life is easy and seamless. One should not spend three to four hours in the NIMC office because of NIN services. It is something I will not allow to continue to happen. We will provide all necessary means to address the issue,” she said.
She further warned that any NIMC staff caught conniving with illegal actors would face disciplinary action and prosecution under the Cybercrime Act 2015 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
“We are clamping down on extortioners parading themselves as NIMC staff. A lot of people have lost their money to extortioners. Any staff of NIMC that tries to work with illegal perpetrators will face disciplinary committee and be tried according to the Cybercrime Act 2015 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Same with any illegal perpetrators. We will make sure we create proper communication to gauge against extortioners,” Coker-Odusote stated.
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The NIMC Director General also mentioned that the Commission is collaborating with the Students Loan Board, NYSC, and other government institutions responsible for palliatives distribution, and will soon start using the NIMC identity database for government services to ensure accountability and eliminate ghost beneficiaries.
With the continuous expansion of enrollment centers across the country, the Commission aims to achieve total registration of Nigerians, as the system’s capacity is set to be upgraded from 100 million to 250 million within the next six to eight months.
