The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Identification Number (NIN)

  • NIN enrolment hits 118.4m

    NIN enrolment hits 118.4m

    The number of Nigerians registered in the National Identification Number (NIN) database rose to 118.4 million in March 2025, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has confirmed.

    This marks an increase of about one million from February’s figure of 117.3 million, indicating sustained momentum in the country’s digital identity drive, according to the Commission’s latest monthly update.

    Lagos remains the state with the highest number of enrollees at 12.7 million, followed by Kano with 10.4 million and Kaduna with 6.9 million. Other top-performing states include Ogun (4.9 million), Oyo (4.5 million), and Katsina (4 million). The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded 3.8 million, Rivers 3.5 million, Delta 3.2 million, and Jigawa 3.1 million.

    In contrast, Bayelsa recorded the lowest enrolment with 767,620. Ebonyi followed with 999,991, and Ekiti with 1.1 million. Others with low enrolment figures include Cross River, Taraba and Yobe with 1.4 million, 1.7 million, and 1.8 million respectively.

    Gender distribution in the data showed a gap, with 66.9 million registered males compared to 51.5 million females, representing 56.5 per cent, 43.5 per cent respectively.

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    Despite the progress, Nigeria is still behind on its target. The country missed the June 30, 2024, deadline set by the World Bank to register at least 148 million people. This led to a two-year extension of the World Bank-backed Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D) project, now set to close on June 30, 2026.

    “The extension provides an opportunity to address existing gaps and to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind.

    “A trusted and inclusive ID system is foundational for effective governance, service delivery, and social protection,” the World Bank stated.

    The ID4D project is co-financed by the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with a total funding commitment of $430 million. The funding aims to support the development of a robust and secure digital identity infrastructure for Nigeria’s estimated 220 million citizens.

    The NIN is now a key requirement for accessing several government and financial services, making enrolment a critical step toward digital inclusion.

  • So long, too long

    So long, too long

    •It’s taking too long to deliver the NIN, a vital tool for planning data

    “So long, too long” is a hit song by the late Majek Fashek, one of Nigeria’s most popular reggae artistes ever. But that track aptly captures Nigeria’s national identity card project.

    Seventeen years after an Act of the National Assembly (NIMC Act 23 of 2007: enacted on May 25, 2007); and 15 years since the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was set up in 2010, the National Identification Number (NIN) scheme isn’t exactly a roaring success.

    Indeed, the first attempts were made under Second Republic President Shehu Shagari (1979-1983) — or more accurately, under the then outgoing military Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo launched the project on September 1, 1979: the final month of his ruling junta. He handed the project over to President Shagari on October 1, 1979. 

    That initial scheme, under President Shagari, launched at the initial cost of N15 million before it got stuck, only delivered national identity cards to Gen. Obasanjo and a few others. That remained the story until the final days of Obasanjo’s presidential tenure, when the outgoing president signed the NIMC Bill into law, on May 25, 2007 — four days before he left office!

    So, If you factor in these first attempts, one could say the idea has been hovering in the air since 1979: 46 years ago! So long, too long! Is there any jinx linked to the project, such that it always jerked awake at Obasanjo’s dying tenure, both as junta head and elected president?

    Between 2010 and now, the number of registrants is hardly anything to crow about. According to statistics that NIMC just released, two states with thumping populations, lead the list. Lagos tops with 12, 612, 334

    registrations, broken down into 6,870,915 males and 5, 741, 419 females.

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    Kano, the second most populated state in Nigeria, posted 10, 246, 055 registrants — 5, 924, 126 males and 4, 321, 929 females.

    For showing leadership — deliberate or inadvertent — Lagos and Kano deserve kudos. It’s rather nice to deduce that this pair, with big populations, seem anxious to leverage NIN to further boost their development planning. 

    Still, we should not rush to such conclusions. As impressive as the Lagos number seems, it would appear barely half of the state’s thumping population, which virtually explodes in the next second, being Nigeria’s first opportunity centre, to which natives of other states flock for jobs. 

    So, as it is, Lagos — as Kano — can do far better. The one is job magnet for all nationwide, the other is the commercial hub of the North. A fuller and accurate NIN would help the pair to better manage migration challenges, triggered by job pulls.

    If Lagos and Kano have at least tried to rally, this can’t be said of other NIN laggards. Mercifully, no region or geo-political zone has a bragging right here. All lug their laggards!

    The worst states with registrant numbers, according to NIMC data, are Ekiti: 1,143,102 (South West), Ebonyi: 990,775 (South East) and Bayelsa: 758,111 (South- South), in that order.

    However, the top 10 include Kaduna (6, 945, 818), Ogun (4, 926, 721), Oyo (4, 539, 340), Katsina (4, 019, 964), FCT of Abuja (3, 795, 690), Rivers (3, 532, 787), Delta (3, 198, 779 and Bauchi (3, 078, 996). Again here, there seems no geo-political domination as the numbers are well spread.

    Given the strategic importance of NIN for planning, the Federal Government should introduce a new blitz of enlightenment for citizens to be registered. The state governments too should galvanise their local governments to embark on such campaigns at the grassroots.

    Still, a vital corollary: NIMC must prime its logistics and technology to capture registrants in minimal time. Indeed, part of the lethargy is that budding registrants often complain over long queues and disorganised registration processes. 

    NIMC must show clear readiness for prompt and orderly registration — or it would have failed in its given national duty.

    The NIN story must change — and change fast!

  • CSO reviews Nigeria’s implementation of UN anti-corruption convention

    CSO reviews Nigeria’s implementation of UN anti-corruption convention

    The Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity has carried out an assessment of Nigeria‘s performance in the enforcement of the anti-corruption protocols enacted by the United Nations (UN).

    The study focused on the implementation of Chapter II (Prevention Measures) and Chapter V (Asset Recovery) of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which Nigeria signed on December 9, 2003.

    In its review, the Centre led by Dr. Umar Yakubu discovered that although many government institutions have adopted most UNCAC norms, their practical application often needs to be revised. The report identifies good practices and deficiencies.

    It hailed the Nigeria Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) effected by the Attorney-General’s office and the development of the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    “However, there is low awareness of the NACS at the subnational level. No report is available to measure the reduction in corruption and the impact of establishing anti-corruption laws, agencies, and mechanisms. The anti-corruption agencies do not have structural independence,” the review notes.

    The good practices further include the Public Service Rules (PSR), which provide standard operating procedures and policies that regulate work and the conditions of the public service. The rules affect public officials’ recruitment, training, promotion, and discipline.

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    “Implementing the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms and the Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) and having a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure compliance with service standards across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are good practices,” the report says.

    The assessment, however, reveals inadequacy in the enforcement of the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms (NSPSR), while the Federal Character Commission (FCC) reports poorly on the application of the Federal Character principle.

    “There is a lack of effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of the Public Service Rules and relevant codes of conduct for officials,” the study shows. “The Code of Conduct Bureau does not make declared public officer assets publicly accessible, hindering verification by civil society groups and the general public.”

    Among the recommendations, the Center calls for stricter regulation of political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to curb illicit campaign financing, saying a more rigorous oversight will ensure parties adhere to legal and ethical standards in their financial activities.

    “INEC can prevent the misuse of funds, reduce corruption, and promote fair and transparent elections by regular audits of party finances, mandatory disclosure of funding sources, and stringent penalties for violations. These measures would foster a more accountable and democratic political system,” it adds.

    The report advocates full autonomy and increased funding for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The CSO suggests access-to-information law at the subnational level to promote transparency and accountability and urges the establishment of an agency to monitor the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and sanction non-compliant institutions.

    Additionally, the Center wants the participation of activists and civil society organizations in the review of anti-corruption processes, noting that the creation of formal mechanisms for consultation and collaboration would foster public trust.

    Other recommendations, “Adoption of measures to improve interagency coordination and data sharing among anti-corruption bodies; Training and retraining programs for judicial officers on ethical standards and a renewed commitment to uphold integrity within the judiciary.  

    “Promotion of a unified data management system across all anti-corruption agencies to streamline information collection, reporting, and analysis, and guarantee that all relevant data is accurately captured and utilized.

    “Review of procurement codes to ensure they are adaptable to evolving challenges in corruption to improve the code’s effectiveness in practice; Implementation an e-procurement system for all MDAs at national and sub-national level.

    “Strengthened collaboration between anti-corruption agencies and the private sector to enhance internal audit controls within corporate entities. This will increase the detection and prevention of corruption and compliance in reporting suspicious transactions (STRs).

    “Improvement of financial institutions’ and Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions’ compliance by conducting comprehensive training programs to ensure awareness and understanding of their obligations to report suspicious transactions.

    “Real-time online updates, especially when beneficial owners’ information changes, and provision of incentives for exemplary disclosure. This will amplify transparency and explore mechanisms for public access to non-sensitive beneficial ownership information.

    “Publication of compliance with Mutual Legal Assistance requests and establishment of an electronic central database for all records; Publication of compliance level with extradition requests and creation of an electronic central database for all records.”

    The recommendations equally support the use of alternative legal means and non-trial resolutions in asset recovery, amplification of reporting of repatriated assets, and inclusion of CSOs in the utilization of proceeds from disposed assets.

    The report also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strengthen its mechanisms and ensure effective regulation of financial institutions in order to curb money laundering and illicit financial flows currently over $10 billion per year.