Mandatory use of NIN to commence January 1st, 2019

The National Identity ManagementCommission (NIMC) has disclosed that the mandatory use of the National Identification Number  (NIN) will kick start by January 1st, 2019.

It said this followed the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of the implementation of a strategic roadmap for Digital Identity Ecosystem in Nigeria at its meeting last Wednesday.

In a statement issued and signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Loveday Ogbonna in Abuja,it explained that the digital identity Ecosystem is a framework that leverages on the existing capabilities and infrastructure of distinct government agencies and private sector organisations to carry out enrolment of Nigerians and Legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB) as well as issuance of Digital identity, known as the National Identification Number (NIN) to give Nigeria a credible and robust identity management system.

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It stated that the Identity Ecosystem will bring into full force the implementation of the provisions of the NIMC Act 23, 2007, which include the enforcement of the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) by January 1, 2019, and the application of appropriate sanctions and penalties on defaulters as provided under Section 28 of the NIMC Act and Regulations.

The commission also noted that the development was in line with the Federal Government’s efforts at repositioning  the country’s status in the global economy, towards achieving the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) launched in April 2017.

“As an omnibus strategy for the government to meet the critical needs of the citizenry in areas such as food security, energy, transport, human capital development, but more critically developing a local digital economy,” the statement partly reads.

In view of this, it noted that all agencies of government and the private sector who are directly or indirectly into the business of data capture and service provision requiring identification of persons should note that: “Guidelines, processes, procedures for licensing public and private sector organisation will be published soon.

“Enforcement of the mandatory use of the NIN for services and transactions based on the Mandatory Use of the NIN Regulations 2017, will commence.

“Duly licensed organisations will be required to carry out the front end services of the Identity Ecosystem (data capture, authentication and verification services, etc.) and in compliance with the provisions set out in the Nigeria Biometrics Standard.”