Diplomats in Nigeria are getting a dedicated NIN registration desk following a request by Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Under the plan, the National Identity Management Commission NIMC) will tomorrow set up a National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment centre at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ease enrolment for diplomats. The imminent NIN registration desk is expected to offer a reprieve for their enrollment for the ID scheme underway in the country.
Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, approved the enrolment desk for members of the Diplomatic Corps managed by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy through NIMC, according to a statement by the Ministry.
The Foreign Affairs Minister requested the special desk to simplify the NIN registration process for diplomats in Nigeria, according to the statement.
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The Communication and Digital Economy Ministry who gave the original order on linking of SIM and NIN records, says “the National Identity Number is mandatory for diplomats who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more. It is also mandatory for all other lawful residents in the country as stated in Section 16 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007.”
The Communication and Digital Economy Ministry says “the National Identity Number is mandatory for diplomats who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more. It is also mandatory for all other lawful residents in the country as stated in Section 16 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007.”
It says that the “Law has made it mandatory for Nigerians and legal residents to obtain a NIN since 2007. However, compliance has been low, until recently. The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy remains committed to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians and legal residents to obtain their Digital Identity Number.”
NIN registration: NIN Diaspora enrolments get underway
The special diplomatic consideration comes just as NIMC says NIN Diaspora registration services are now available in 15 countries to enrol Nigerians living abroad for the mandatory Nigerian ID requirements.
According to NIMC, the NIN Diaspora enrolment exercise was started in 2019 to capture “Nigerians living outside the country into the National Identity Database thereby ensuring they also benefit from the acquisition of their National Identification Numbers (NIN).”
So far, NIMC has released the initial list of 15 countries including the UK, US, South Africa, where Nigerians can now get NIN Diaspora registration services.
NIN registration: Enhanced NIN Mobile App goes live
In a related development, Pantami recently approved the development and release of an improved NIN slip and a Mobile App to improve the process of obtaining NIN and linking it to SIM that was sent to the NIMC, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms regulator, for implementation.
The App available for download via https://dashboard.nimc.gov.ng offers a built-in harmonization process that allows for its use across other government services including the NCC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, and National Health Insurance Scheme, to mention a few, according to the Ministry.
“The highly anticipated Web Service (MWS) Application, called the NIMC Mobile App, and the improved National Identification Number (NIN) Slip are now available for public use. The App provides a secure channel for all Nigerians and legal residents to easily verify and authenticate their identities on-the-go using smartphones.
“It also enables them to link the NIN to their phone numbers. The development of the App and other tools to support the National Identity Number (NIN) process align with the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria”, according to the Ministry.
The new improved NIN slip, a pocket-friendly and an easy to verify version of the NIN can be accessed via a self-service Portal, where people who already have been issued the NIN, can log in, download a PDF of the document in color (if preferred), print and laminate as desired, the Ministry says explaining that “the current NIN Slip will remain valid and will be gradually phased-out.”
NIN registration: NIN verifications fees waived
Accordingly, the “N20 and N40 fees for NIN verification by individuals and Mobile Network Operators, respectively, were also waived. These efforts are aimed at supporting the Policy to link subscribers’ NIN to their SIM, which was approved by the Federal Government earlier in the year and communicated to the NCC on the 4th of February, 2020.”
The Ministry further says that the NIN Mobile App is available on the Google Play Store for Android users and App Store for IOS users while details on how to download and install the App and download the improved NIN slip are available on the websites and social media platforms of the Ministry and NIMC, while users can also download the improved NIN Slip at https://dashboard.nimc.gov.ng.
