National Identity Management Commission warns that everyone now needs Nin to access government services

NIGERIA'S National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has urged members of the public to go and get National Identification Numbers (Nin) because possessing one is now mandatory to access all government services.

Under an ambitious plan to combat identity fraud,  unmask terrorists and criminals, address census misinformation, Nigeria has introduced an Nin policy, which mandates everyone to be registered. In December 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari announced that the programme was part of the administration’s security and social policy.

NIMC director-general Aliyu Aziz, said that the agency's enrolment, verification and other identification systems are working optimally. He then reassured Nigerians of the provision of top-notch identification services in line with the government’s effort at providing a reliable, sustainable and verifiable foundational identification system for all Nigerians and legal residents.

Mr Aziz also warned that the commission would not tolerate any form of extortion, urging the public to report any such case to the appropriate quarters. He added that the commission is aware of the antics of some unscrupulous individuals using forged documents to prey on innocent people, sometimes in collusion with state and local government officials.

According to NIMC, these individuals collect money and issue fake Nins, especially to students in primary and secondary schools across the country. Mr Aziz said NIMC has not sent anyone or any organisation to do this and urged the public to report such individuals or organisations involved in it.