The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced a significant milestone with over 107.33 million Nigerians now registered in the National Identification Number (NIN) database as of May 2023, marking an increase of 3.18 million since December 31, 2023.
Mr. Femi Fabunmi, the Director of Database at NIMC, revealed the updated enrollment figures during a press conference in Abuja, stating, “The current total enrollment stands at 107,338,044 as of today.”
This surge in registrations is likely a response to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive that all bank accounts lacking a Bank Verification Number (BVN) or NIN will face a freeze starting April 2024.
In December 2023, CBN issued a mandate for banks to implement a “Post no Debit” restriction on all Tier-1 accounts without BVN or NIN, effectively blocking any withdrawals or transfers.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General of NIMC, pointed out that the existing database capacity is nearing its limit and disclosed plans to expand the database to accommodate up to 250 million unique adult NINs.
“We have initiated the process to enhance our capacity from the current 100 million to 250 million, encompassing network infrastructure and software licensing,” said Coker-Odusote. She estimated that the upgrade could take between six to nine months to complete.
The Director-General also expressed concerns about the outdated equipment at the commission, emphasizing the urgent need for replacements and upgrades.
Clarifying the database’s current capacity, Coker-Odusote explained that while the number of NINs has surpassed 100 million, the database has not reached full capacity since some records belong to children, for whom data like fingerprints are not collected.
The NIMC is also reviewing its service fees, with Coker-Odusote assuring that obtaining a NIN remains free of charge, though other rates may see a moderate increase.
Additionally, the commission is collaborating with various ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, to facilitate the NIN registration process. Some government agencies have been designated as front-end partners to assist in this initiative.
Coker-Odusote acknowledged challenges with some front-end partners regarding the NIN registration process and confirmed ongoing investigations into these matters.
She also inherited a substantial debt of nearly N30 billion, which the commission is striving to address, including discussions with partners to resolve fines for infractions before settling outstanding debts.
The NIMC aims to clear these debts to front-end partners by the first quarter of 2024.
