The National Identity Management Commission has achieved a significant milestone, with more than 120.4 million enrolments for National Identification Numbers, alongside implementing extensive reforms designed to improve transparency and service delivery.
Director General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote announced the achievement while highlighting continuing infrastructure enhancements and system integrations that are revolutionising identity verification processes across the country.
These initiatives, she stated, have already resulted in a 40% drop in corruption within the commission.
Despite a recent review of its price structure, Odusote confirmed that NIN enrolment is still free for all Nigerians and legal residents.
However, modification fees have been revised upward, while verification fees were reduced to reflect present economic conditions.
“For instance,” she explained, “the cost of modifying the date of birth was raised from ₦16,340 to ₦28,574, a 75% increase, which still falls short of inflation-adjusted costs.”
Meanwhile, NIN retrieval via the USSD platform was increased from ₦20 to ₦50.
“We are people-centric in our dealings. Some prices were too high, and we had to adjust them. There were various extortions with outrageous pricing.
NIN enrolment is free, but if you want to modify your data for any reason, there are costs associated,” Odusote clarified.
Highlighting NIMC’s digital transformation, she added that backend systems have been upgraded and many processes automated, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
The commission has successfully integrated with 120 government agencies and parastatals, including the NHIS, NPC, FIRS, banks, security agencies, correctional services, the school feeding program, and NASCO.
Looking ahead, Director of Card Services, Peter, revealed that a digital version of the National ID Card will be launched by October 2025.
He stated that the upcoming digital ID will improve citizens’ access to government services and social benefits while moving away from physical cards.
Under Odusote’s stewardship, NIMC has also cleared ₦280 million in debt, officially making the agency debt-free.
Additionally, 1,300 staff have been trained and promoted in line with internal reforms designed to improve efficiency and morale.
These transformations, the NIMC DG noted, are part of a broader effort to align with the World Bank’s Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) initiative, which aims to provide secure and inclusive digital identification systems across Nigeria.