The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has arrested a number of operators concerned in illegal National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment and seized unauthorised enrolment equipment throughout an enforcement operation in the Gwagwalada space of Abuja and different places.
NIMC disclosed this in an announcement launched on Monday and signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke.
The arrests, based on the assertion, adopted a crackdown by the Commission’s Inspectorate Compliance and Enforcement Unit (ICEU) on illegal NIN enrolment, unauthorised modification of non-public knowledge and extortion.
The Commission stated the operation was a part of efforts to remove unauthorised enrolment actions and unethical practices that threaten the integrity, safety and credibility of Nigeria’s National Identity Management System.
Unauthorised NIN providers elevate safety considerations
While warning Nigerians in opposition to utilizing unapproved centres or people for NIN enrolment and associated providers, NIMC stated lots of the challenges Nigerians encounter with their National Identification Numbers come up from makes an attempt to bypass official enrolment procedures.
The Commission emphasised that preliminary NIN enrolment can solely be carried out at its accredited enrolment centres, whereas requests for private knowledge modification needs to be processed by means of its official self-service platform.
It additionally suggested NIN holders to obtain the NINAuth utility, out there on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, to entry extra security measures, shield their NIN and print their NIN slips.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, reiterated the Commission’s zero tolerance for extortion and different unethical practices by enrolment operators.
She stated the Commission remained dedicated to offering seamless and hitch-free NIN enrolment providers for Nigerians and authorized residents.
NIN enrolment hits 136 million
The improvement comes as Nigeria continues to push for extra enrolments of its residents on the identification database.
According to NIMC, the transfer adopted a presidential directive mandating it to take NIN registration to the grassroots throughout the nation.
The train is aimed toward making certain the excellent registration of each Nigerian citizen and authorized resident, together with youngsters and adults, into the National Identity Database.
NIMC stated the ward-level enrollment is being carried out freed from cost, including that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to deepen identification inclusion, promote inclusive governance, and develop entry to public providers.
NIMC races to fulfill World Bank’s goal
Aside from the nationwide aim of getting all residents registered, NIMC can also be racing to fulfill the goal set underneath the World Bank’s Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D) venture, launched in 2020.
According to the Bank, the extension was obligatory to ensure the whole disbursement of the $430 million pledged for the venture by the financiers.
The venture is being co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
With the restructuring of the venture, the Bank stated the closure was prolonged by two years to December 31, 2026.
