By Walter Duru, Ph.D

The digital age has reshaped how we consume and disseminate information, with online media playing a crucial role in shaping public perception and opinion.

Recognizing this, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), with support from the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, recently organized a two-day roundtable with online newspaper publishers in Nigeria.

The Roundtable, held in two batches, at Lagos and Abuja, respectively, provided participants the opportunity to understand and appreciate the activities, strategy, approach, achievements, and challenges of NIMC. It was the first of its kind, since the establishment of the commission.

This collaborative initiative underscores the importance of dialogue between regulatory bodies and media stakeholders in shaping the future of identity management in the country. It marks a significant step toward enhancing communication, collaboration, and mutual understanding between NIMC and digital media stakeholders.

The roundtable, themed “Building Trust and Collaboration in the Digital Age: Enhancing Communication Between NIMC and Online Publishers,” aimed to bridge the gap between NIMC and the digital media.

It provided an opportunity for NIMC to articulate its mandate, vision, activities, and achievements directly to the publishers while addressing some misconceptions surrounding its operations. The roundtable laid the foundation for future interactions and collaborative efforts.

The event was also designed to foster a partnership that leverages the strengths of online media to support NIMC’s mission and to ensure accurate dissemination of information.

In her opening remarks at the event, NIMC Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with the media to combat misinformation and to enhance the visibility of NIMC’s efforts.

“As we gather here today, we are united by a common goal: to build formidable bridges between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the influential voices of the online media landscape.”

“In the digital age, the influence of online media cannot be overstated. The internet has become a primary source of information for many, particularly the youth. However, it is also a breeding ground for misinformation and rumours, which can severely impact the reputation and trust in organizations.”

“Our focus today is to address the dual role of online publishers – as key partners in disseminating accurate information and as potential sources of misconceptions. We recognize that while you have the power to amplify our successes, there is also the potential for misunderstandings that can spread rapidly.”

“This Roundtable aims to forge a partnership that leverages your strengths to support our mission while ensuring that any misconceptions are promptly and accurately addressed.”

“Pursuant to our commitment to transparency and accountability, we have instituted robust mechanisms for participation, grievance redress, and regular monitoring to enhance operational performance and mitigate social risks.”

“Let me also use this medium to remind you all that enrolment for the National Identification Number (NIN) is free of charge in Nigeria.”

“Taking advantage of this meeting, we hope to provide you with comprehensive insights into NIMC’s activities, objectives, strategies, achievements, and challenges. This knowledge is vital for you to disseminate accurate information to the public.”

“It is also expected that we discuss your roles in the forthcoming NIMC Ecosystem Enrolment exercise, ensuring you understand how you can contribute to this national effort.”

“Let me use this medium to, once again, reassure Nigerians, at home, and in the diaspora that robust measures are in place to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats. Under my leadership, NIMC has an unwavering commitment to upholding ethical standards in data protection. Cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies are in place to protect the database.”

Earlier in her remarks, Coordinator, Project Implementation Unit, Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Tito Ejenavi, highlighted the project’s development objective – to increase the number of persons with a National Identity Number (NIN) through a robust and inclusive foundational identity system.

“By strengthening our national identity infrastructure, we aim to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy, enhance data protection, and close the inclusion gaps that hinder access to identification and related key services,” she explained.

Also, in his remarks, Deputy President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and Publisher of Newsdiary Online, Danlami Nmodu, pledged the continued support and collaboration of online publishers to the commission.

The roundtable featured a series of presentations, interactive sessions, and case studies, aimed at educating participants about NIMC’s operations, strategy, achievements, and plans.

Notable presentations included “NIMC: Mandate, Approach, Operations and Strategy” by Festus Esangbedo and

“Understanding Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote’s 5-Point Agenda for NIMC” by Dr. Alvan Ikoku.

Others are: “Front End Partners in NIN Enrolment: Essence, Approach, Benefits and Challenges”, by Carolyne Folami; “Nigeria Digital ID4D Project and the Ecosystem Enrolment”, by Chinenye Chizea’; “Improvements to NIMC Infrastructure: Implications to Data Integrity, Privacy and Security”, by Chinenye Chizea, and “Online Publishers and Realization of the NIMC Mandate”, By Dr. Walter Duru.

These sessions provided comprehensive insights into the commission’s efforts to maintain a secure, robust and inclusive national identity system.

For online publishers, the roundtable underscored the importance of their role in the national identity management ecosystem. As digital gatekeepers, they have the power to shape narratives and influence public perceptions. The collaboration with NIMC presents an opportunity to enhance their reporting with accurate and comprehensive information directly from the source.

The NIMC’s engagement with online publishers is a strategic move to enhance transparency and build public trust in the National Identity Number (NIN) system. By involving the media, NIMC can ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information, addressing public concerns and misinformation about the digital identity process.

The roundtable provided an opportunity for NIMC to clarify its objectives, challenges, and progress. Online publishers, armed with this knowledge, can produce more informed and insightful content, fostering a more supportive and educated public opinion. This improved understanding can lead to more nuanced reporting, highlighting the benefits and addressing the drawbacks of the NIN system.

As the media amplify the discussions from the roundtable, the general populace stands to benefit from increased awareness about the importance of digital identity. This awareness is crucial for driving the widespread adoption of the NIN, which is essential for the success of various government initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and socio-economic development.

Feedback from online publishers provided NIMC with valuable insights into public sentiment and practical challenges faced by citizens. This collaborative feedback loop can inform policy adjustments and operational improvements, ensuring that the NIN system evolves to meet the needs and expectations of Nigerians effectively.

The outcomes of the roundtable were promising, with enhanced understanding of NIMC’s mandate and activities, strengthened relationships, and the establishment of effective communication bridges between NIMC and online publishers.

To sustain this momentum, several next steps were identified, such as establishing regular communication channels between NIMC and online publishers to ensure continuous engagement and prompt resolution of issues, periodic meetings, among others.

The time has therefore come for NIMC to create a structured framework for ongoing collaboration with online media. This can lead to sustained media support and effective dissemination of information about NIMC’s initiatives.

A comprehensive public education campaign, supported by the media, is essential for demystifying the NIN process and highlighting its benefits.

NIMC, in collaboration with online publishers, can develop and disseminate educational content that addresses common misconceptions and encourages participation in the digital identity system.

Organizing training sessions for online publishers and other media stakeholders on NIMC’s systems and processes will enhance their understanding and reporting accuracy.

By working together, NIMC and online publishers can enhance the visibility, trust, and goodwill of the commission, ensuring that accurate and effective information reaches the public.

No doubt, NIMC’s roundtable with online publishers represents a forward-thinking approach to governance and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the importance of collaboration between national institutions and digital media in fostering a well-informed and inclusive society.

This initiative is not only timely but also critical, given the increasing reliance on digital platforms for information dissemination. It sets the stage for improved public awareness and education on the importance of digital identity.

This partnership is not just beneficial to NIMC but also aligns with the social responsibility obligation of online publishers to inform and educate the public accurately.

As we move forward, sustained engagement, technological innovation, and comprehensive public education will be key to unlocking the full potentials of the NIN and ensuring that it serves as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s digital future.
With the foundation laid for a productive relationship, the future looks promising for NIMC and the online media community.
All hands must be on deck!

Dr. Chike Walter Duru, is a communication expert walterchike@gmail.com.

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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that 107.33 million Nigerians have been enrolled into the National Identification Number (NIN) database as of May 2023.

This is an increase of 3.18 million from the 104.16 million recorded as of December 31, 2023.

The Director of Database at NIMC, Mr. Femi Fabunmi, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, saying: “As of this morning, the total enrolment in our database is 107,338,044.”

The increase is likely triggered by an announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that all bank accounts without BVN or NIN would be frozen from April 2024.

In a circular by the apex bank in December 2023, it instructed banks to place a “Post no Debit” restriction – which prevents customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits “for all existing Tier-1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN”.

‘Post No Debit’ is a term used to describe a restriction imposed by banks on specific accounts, preventing customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits from such accounts.

The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, noted that the capacity of the current database is almost exhausted and efforts are ongoing to expand the database to cover 250 million unique NINs for adults.

She said: “We have started to work on upgrading the capacity across all boards from the network infrastructure perspective to software licensing areas. We are working on that to increase the capacity that we have. We are trying to ensure that we increase it from 100 million to 250 million.”

On how long the upgrade may take, she noted: “That process will take us a minimum of six to nine months. So, it is a lot of work that needs to be done but we have commenced that process.”

She further lamented that a lot of the commission’s equipment is outdated and needs to be replaced and upgraded.

When asked about the current capacity of the database, she further clarified that although the number of NINs recorded exceeded 100 million, which is the capacity of the database, some of the data are for children, not adults, and certain data like fingerprints are not collected from children.

Stressing the need for upgrading the database, she said: “We are approaching the end of our capacity.”

He stressed that the licensing is not required for data collected from children. This is why the database is yet to reach its 100% capacity.

The NIMC DG also disclosed that the commission is currently reviewing the fees it offers for its services, stressing that getting NIN is free.

She said: “We are definitely reviewing our rates. We will not increase them too much, but we are going to review our rates.”

Coker-Odusote also noted that the NIMC fees have not been increased in a long time but assured that the increase will be moderate.

She also said that the newly launched multipurpose identity card is not free.

The NIMC boss also said that the NIMC is partnering with ministries like the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure more onboarding. She noted that some government agencies have been made front-end partners to help more Nigerians get their NIN.

Coker-Odusote also noted that some front-end partners have been found wanting for how they handled the NIN registration process, noting that investigations are ongoing on that.

She added that she met a debt of almost N30 billion, and this is among the issues that the commission under her is working to resolve.

Although NIMC said it would clear outstanding debts to front-end partners in the first quarter of 2024, the commission’s DG noted some of the partners are being engaged in a discussion to settle fines for infractions before the debts will be paid.

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In a bid to modernize its biometric system, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has renewed its collaboration with IDEMIA Smart Identity. This partnership comes at a pivotal moment as the number of Nigerians with National Identification Numbers (NINs) has surged to over 104 million as of January 2024.

IDEMIA, in a statement retrieved from its website, revealed that the aim of the collaboration is to transform NIMC’s biometric system into one of the most advanced globally. Leveraging cryptographic and biometric technologies, the upgraded system seeks to establish a single trusted identity for every Nigerian.

The enhanced system is projected to handle a staggering one million 1:1 and 1:N identity verification searches daily. Originally designed to accommodate 100 million national identity numbers, the system expansion has become imperative to cater to Nigeria’s entire population.

The NIN plays a pivotal role in the lives of Nigerians and legal residents, serving as a unique identifier akin to the Social Security Number in the United States or the AADHAR number in India. IDEMIA emphasized that NIMC’s efforts align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which emphasize universal access to legal identity.

Furthermore, the system upgrade will ensure NIMC’s compliance with open standard interfaces, facilitating seamless connectivity across the identity management ecosystem. Olivier Charlanes, Senior Vice President of the Middle East and Africa at IDEMIA Smart Identity, expressed pride in the collaboration, highlighting its significance in Africa’s most populous nation.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO of NIMC, emphasized the necessity of the partnership in delivering top-tier solutions to Nigerians. With the system’s enhanced biometric matching capabilities, NIMC aims to future-proof its services for the nation’s expanding population.

NIMC is actively working towards accelerating enrollment, with a target of 148 million by June 2024. Notably, over half a million Nigerians in the Diaspora have obtained NINs, with 59.12 million males and 45.04 million females now registered in the system.

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The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has said having accurate data is critical in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda.

She stated this at the commission’s 2024 management retreat in Lagos, recently.

According to Coker-Odusote, NIMC has been working to ensure that every Nigerian has a unique identity number that can be used to access government services and benefits.

President Bola Tinubu’s agenda focuses on key areas, such as security, job creation, infrastructure development, and poverty reduction.

The NIMC DG stressed that having precise data enables the government to make well-informed decisions and take actions that contribute to the achievement of these agenda goals.

Coker-Odusote mentioned that the commission had enrolled over 104 million Nigerians and was actively working to enrol the remaining population.

She noted, “We have an online modification platform portal going on very soon. We are testing it internally at the moment. It is a production right now. It is called a production environment through quality assurance and quality control units. Once that is ready, it will definitely go live in another week.

“The reason we have set this portal up is to ensure that you can go online and do your modification yourself. So, it’s called a self-service locally for you to be able to do what you need to do.

“So, you don’t have to go to the NIMC offices or go anywhere. And we’re very keen on ensuring that there is a pre-enrollment service that will also come up very soon. So, all you do is enrol, pre-enrol online, input all your information, and then just walk in to do your biometric capturing at the centres.

“Give or take, that pre-enrollment should be ready before the end of March,” Coker-Odusote said.

The MINC director-general emphasised the commission’s commitment to ensuring that the President bridges the gap between the government and the citizens and that all citizens benefit from his tenure.

He stated, “Regarding the President’s eight-point agenda, I’m sure that you all are aware of what NIMC does, the issuance of the NIN to all the citizens in this country. But most importantly, is to ensure that we bridge that gap between the government and the people by ensuring that we provide access to services through the issuance of the NIN.”

The DG underscored the importance of utilising the NIN for various government initiatives, emphasising that it played a crucial role in curbing fraud and identity fraud.

The NIN, according to Coker-Odusote, enables effective tracking of payments from end-to-end, ensuring that funds reach the intended beneficiaries and mitigating issues such as ghost payments.

Further, she revealed that a pre-enrolment platform for Debottlenecking the process of obtaining the National Identity Number would soon be unveiled.

She said the pre-enrollment platform will allow people willing to obtain NIN to do it online by inputting their information and walking in to do their biometric capture at the centres near to them.

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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is set to clear outstanding payment owed to its Front-End Partners (FEPs) for a period of two years within the first quarter of 2024.

The Director General of the Commission, Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, who gave this assurance in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday also expressed her sympathy with the FEPs who have been burdened with running their businesses for two years without payment.

She said: “The National Identity Management Commission, under my leadership, has conducted a revalidation exercise to review the outstanding payments which the new management inherited with a view to offsetting the debt after going through due audit process to validate the claims made by the FEPs.

“In the process, we found out that some of the invoices submitted by the FEPs did not tally with the enrolment figures shown on the database thus prompting the revalidation exercise to confirm the true and accurate enrolment information.

“Notwithstanding, we are wrapping up the audit process, and the activation of the FEPs will be done according to the outcome of the validation exercise.

“We sympathise with our partners over the delay and appeal for understanding especially as the new NIMC management is just a few months in the saddle and had been working on resolving all inherited debts.

“Unfortunately, the previous management could not clear the outstanding dues because of lack of funds but we are working hard to source for the funds to clear the debt.

“I therefore use the opportunity to reiterate that the revalidation exercise was aimed at sanitising the system as well as ensuring efficient and effective enrolment processes in line with international best practices of securing citizens’ data.”

The Commission assured concerned Nigerians that payment will be made to the FEPs in the first quarter of 2024 and added that there are plans to hold a stakeholders engagement summit this month.

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In an official statement released recently in Abuja, Mrs. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the acting Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has reassured Nigerians of a hassle-free National Identification Number (NIN) registration process both within the nation and abroad.

Coker-Odusote emphasized that NIN registration would remain cost-free for all eligible citizens. She also reaffirmed NIMC’s unwavering dedication to ensuring accessibility for every Nigerian, adhering to global best practices.

The new head of NIMC additionally expressed her commitment to establishing a comprehensive national identity system aimed at streamlining government services and enhancing service delivery.

She noted that a unified identity system would expedite the provision of entitled services to citizens more efficiently.

Coker-Odusote stated, “NIMC will bolster its operations and regulations related to national identity, encompassing services like NIN enrollment and issuance, issuance of national e-ID cards, identity verification, data harmonization, and authentication.”

Highlighting the significance of integrated identity in the digital age, she explained that it forms the backbone of e-governance initiatives, enabling essential government programs, financial inclusion, and innovative product and service offerings by companies.

Furthermore, Coker-Odusote emphasized that an integrated identity system would enhance fiscal management, promote transparency, inclusivity, and social equality, ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable populations receive government services.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by millions of Nigerians during NIN enrollment, the acting director general pledged to address and resolve issues such as extended processing times and administrative errors.

She called for the support and understanding of stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital identity sector and reiterated NIMC’s commitment to expediting NIN issuance and providing additional services to citizens.

Coker-Odusote also affirmed NIMC’s dedication to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s policy goals, particularly by strengthening NIN issuance in alignment with efforts to reduce poverty, enhance food security, drive economic growth, and improve security in the country.

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As of August 28, 2023, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) reports that 102.39 million Nigerians have been assigned their National Identification Number (NIN).

The latest NIN enrolment data reveals that while the pace of enrolment had slowed in July, there was a slight improvement in August. During August, the total enrolment count reached 743,085, a minor increase from the 634,603 recorded in July.

This is a deviation from the trend, as prior to the past two months, the NIN database had been expanding at an average rate of 1 million individuals per month.

The recent appointment of Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote as the new Director-General of NIMC signals a renewed effort to accelerate the issuance of digital identity tokens, aligning with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The enrolment data indicates that Lagos State continues to lead in terms of the number of enrolments, with 11.17 million Nigerians registered in the state. Kano State follows closely with 9.07 million registered NIN holders.

These two states, the most populous according to National Bureau of Statistics data, have consistently dominated NIN enrolment.Regarding gender distribution, the NIMC data reveals that 58.15 million individuals, or 56.8% of those enrolled in the NIN database, are male.

On the other hand, 44.23 million individuals, constituting 43.2% of the total enrolment, are female.Apart from Lagos and Kano, other states making the top ten in enrolment numbers include Kaduna with 6.3 million, Ogun with 4.3 million, Oyo with 3.9 million, Katsina with 3.5 million, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 3.4 million, Rivers with 3 million, Bauchi with 2.7 million, and Delta with 2.7 million.

Conversely, the states with the lowest NIN issuance are Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Kogi, Enugu, Yobe, Taraba, Cross River, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa.

However, the deceleration in enrolments during August might hinder Nigeria’s ability to fulfill the World Bank’s targets set under the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.

By June 2024, Nigeria aims to have issued 148 million NINs, including at least 65 million to female citizens and 50 million to children under the age of 16.

Despite monthly enrolments averaging 1 million, achieving this goal within the next year remains uncertain.

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