- The NIMC is the body in charge of the issuance of the NIN
- The process involved in the NIN enrolment of adults (above 16 years) and minors (0-15 years) is different in Nigeria
- TheRadar explains the process of enrolment in the two categories and the documents needed for registration by applicants
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is the organ responsible for issuing the National Identity Number (NIN). The NIN is a set of unique 11 numbers randomly chosen by NIMC’s system and given to eligible individuals after they complete enrolment into Nigeria’s National Identity Database (NIDB).
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2007 was enacted by the National Assembly on May 25, 2007. In accordance with the Act, the NIMC was established in 2010 to manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register eligible people as covered by the Act, assign a unique National Identification Number (NIN) to registered individuals, issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents
Methods of registering your NIN in Nigeria
There are two main ways of registering your NIN in Nigeria. They include:
1. Partial registration (Pre-enrolment method): This is not the registration per se but the first step to the final enrolment. It is called the “Do it yourself whenever and wherever you are” process of enrolment.
This is done on the official website of NIMC and fill out the pre-enrolment form online using the link (https://penrol.nimc.gov.ng/), or you can download the form and fill it out manually.
The applicant will fill in his/her data in block letters and print out a summary sheet that has a 2D barcode.
The 2D barcode will be scanned at any NIMC enrolment centre.
Registration will not be completed until biometric data (fingerprints, headshot paragraph, and signature) is collected at the NIMC Enrolment Centre.
2. Complete registration at NIMC enrolment centre: This is when the enrolment process is completed fully at the NIMC Enrolment Centre. This includes registering the form and entering biometric data.
Documents needed for NIN enrolment of adults in Nigeria (16 years and above)
These are the documents required for the enrolment of every Nigerian and Legal resident aged 16 and above.
However, those below 16 years old are enrolled as minors.
They include:
- Bank Verification Number
- Old National ID Card
- Driver's license
- Voter’s card
- Nigerian International Passport
- Certificate of origin
- Attestation letter from a prominent ruler in your community
- Birth certificate
- Declaration of age
- Attestation letter from religious/traditional leader
- NHIS ID card
- Government staff ID card
- Registered/recognized private organization staff ID card
- School ID Card (private/public)
- Tax Clearance certificate
- Valid immigration documents
- Nigerian Commission for Refugees (NCFR) Refugee Certificate
- Refugee ID card
- Refugee Factsheet
Process of NIN enrolment for adults (16 years and above)
- The applicant walks into the enrollment centre with the necessary documents for registration, as listed above.
- Applicants will be verified to ascertain if he/she has ever enrolled using the NIN verification portal.
- If the applicant has not enrolled before, he/she will be issued an enrolment form to fill out. OR, if the applicant has pre-enrolled earlier using the pre-enrolment service online, the printed barcode slip will be collected.
- A NIMC official will vet applicants' forms to cross-check the information filled on the form against the supporting document provided and check for errors or mistakes. However, applicants who cannot read or write should be accompanied by a literate individual who can do the form filling for him/her.
- Applicant’s pre-filled information will be inputted on the NIMC Software by a NIMC enrolment officer or the Barcode slip will be scanned by the NIMC enrolment officer to populate all the required fields.
- The enrolment officer will ask the applicant to double-check his/her information for errors using the applicant monitor.
- If the applicant is satisfied with his/her demographic information, the biometrics (ten fingerprints and facial images) of the applicant will be captured subsequently.
- After completing the enrolment, a Transaction ID Slip will be issued to the applicant as evidence of the transaction. However, the Transaction slip does not confer the right to National Identification Number. The applicant will be requested to come back for the NIN within 1-5 working days, as it is subjected to availability of network, authentication and verification.
- A National Identification Number (NIN) Slip is issued to the applicants after processing.
- The National e-ID Card will be issued to the applicant within 12 Months after the issuance of the NIN, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Currently, the focus of the government is to ensure the widespread issuance of NINs to citizens and legal residents for effective digital identification across the country.
Process of NIN enrolment for minors (0 to 15 years)
The process involved in the enrolment of minors is different from that of adults. The step-by-step process is provided below:
- Applicants walk into the enrolment Centre with their parent/guardian and the required supporting document.
- Applicants will be verified to ascertain if he/she has enrolled before through the verification portal.
- Applicants will be issued an enrolment form to fill if he/she has not enrolled before, or the printed Barcode slip will be collected if the applicant had pre-enrolled earlier using the pre-enrolment services.
- Applicants forms will be vetted by a NIMC official to crosscheck the information filled on the form against the supporting document provided and to check for errors/mistakes filled on the form. However, parents/guardians who cannot read nor write should come along with another person who can do the form filling on their behalf.
- A NIMC enrolment officer will input applicants’ pre-filled information into the NIMC software or scan the Barcode slip to populate all the required fields.
- The enrolment officer will ask the applicant’s parents to double-check their ward information using the applicant’s monitor for errors. If the Parent/Guardian is satisfied with the demographic information inputted, the applicant's biometrics will be captured subsequently.
- A transaction slip will be issued to the applicant as evidence of the transaction. However, the Transaction slip does not confer the right to a National Identification Number (NIN). The applicant will be requested to come back for the NIN within 1-5 working days, as it is subject to the speed/availability of the network, authentication, and verification.
- A National Identification Number Slip is issued to the applicant after processing.
- The National e-ID Card will not be issued to these categories of applicants until they become 16 years of age and above.
- A text message will automatically be sent to the Applicant, Parent or guardian to come for an update when they become 16 years of age.
Documents required for NIN enrolment of minors
- Birth certificate
- Declaration of age
- School ID Card private/public
- NHIS ID card
- Nigerian passport
- Attestation letter from a prominent ruler in the community
- Attestation letter from religious/traditional leader
- Nigerian Commission for Refugees (NCFR) Refugee Certificate
- Refugee ID card
- Refugee Factsheet
How much does NIN enrolment cost?
Generally, enrolment is FREE.
How to check your NIN status on MTN, GLO, Airtel, 9Mobile
Meanwhile, TheRadar recently wrote about how you can check your NIN status on the different network providers.
This followed the mass disconnection of phone numbers by the network providers due to the failure to link them with NIN.
The status of NIN can be checked in three major ways: through the NIMC Mobile ID app, network providers' unique codes (*996#), and by visiting the network service centres.
