97.4m NINs issued as new verification payment process commences April 1

The National Identification Numbers (NINs) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has hit 97.4 million as of March 2023.

Data from NIMC, yesterday, showed that more Nigerian men have been issued with NIN. Specifically, of the 97.4 million, men have 55.2 million NINs (56.6 per cent), while the female folks have been issued with 42.3 million NINs (43.4 per cent).

The highest cumulative enrolment figure of over 10.7 million was recorded in Lagos State. Kano is second with 8.5 million NINs; Kaduna 5.9 million; Ogun 4.1 million; Oyo 3.8 million; Abuja 3.4 million; Katsina 3.3 million; Rivers 2.9 million; Bauchi 2.6 million and Delta 2.6 million.

The bottom states for NIN enrolment are Akwa Ibom 1.67 million; Imo 1.6 million; Enugu 1.5 million; Yobe 1.48 million; Taraba 1.42 million; Cross River 1.11 million; Ekiti 994,219; Ebonyi 779,899 and Bayelsa 617,398. According to NIMC, diaspora issuance is now 387,089.

Recall that the NIMC has agreed on a framework with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to improve the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through the timely verification of the National Identification Number (NIN).

NIMC, had, in a statement, signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, about two weeks ago, said the new arrangement is in furtherance of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s directive to streamline passport application, renewal, and issuance processes.

Consequently, a NIN Verification fee would be charged for each Nigerian passport application for this service. According to him, in Nigeria, the applicable NIN verification fee would be N1, 000; African countries $5 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and other countries would be $15 (or its equivalent in other countries).

Adegoke said NIMC and NIS have agreed on a revised applicant journey that will significantly improve the speed of passport issuance/re-issuance and reduce the traffic visiting the NIS office(s). According to him, the NIN service, fees, and the new NIS process will go live on April 1, 2023.