The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has disclosed that Nigerians with National Identification Numbers (NINs) now total 107,338, 440 as of the beginning of May 2024.
Coker-Odusote, who made the disclosure during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, indicated the latest number of NIN- registered Nigerians represented an increase of 3.18 million when compared with recorded NINs in May last year.
She also hinted that NIMC had further strengthened collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to harmonize all identity databases for efficiency and more seamless interoperability and access to other social services.
According to her, the Commission has already formed partnerships with 14 government institutions, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), banks, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among others.
The Director-General maintained that a unique identity database for all Nigerians would unlock opportunities and harness resources for the country’s growth and development.
She pointed out that with the expansion of opportunities of the unique identity database, Nigerians would have to pay a certain amount of money to get the new general multipurpose national identity card through the banks.
Coker-Odusote further clarified that applicants for the card would have to request their NIN through a self-service online portal or the banks and pay through the banks to acquire the card, stressing that the Commission has zero tolerance for crime and impersonation and is taking steps to address fraudsters impersonating its staff.
The Director-General restated the commission’s readiness to tackle the menace of fraudsters masquerading as business vendors and some cyber cafe operators defrauding Nigerians and fabricating fake NINs as NIMC was working with security agencies to this effect.
On the Commission’s infrastructure expansion drive, Coker-Odusote explained that NIMC was working to expand the database to cover 250 million unique NINs for Nigerians, adding that the process will take about nine months to complete.
