NIMC Confirms NIN Registration is Free, Nigerian Man Reacts, Claims Paying N5000

NIMC Confirms NIN Registration is Free, Nigerian Man Reacts, Claims Paying N5000

  • On February 18, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) reaffirmed that NIN registration is free across Nigeria
  • A social media user, outtaspaceg, challenged this claim, asserting that a payment of N5,000 is typically required
  • NIMC responded promptly, emphasising that any demand for payment is illegal and urging the public to report such instances

On February 18, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) made a significant announcement, stating unequivocally that NIN registration is free across Nigeria.

This declaration aimed to dispel prevailing misconceptions surrounding the cost of obtaining a National Identification Number (NIN).

NIMC clarifies that NIN registration is free across Nigeria, urging the public to report any illegal charges that may have occurred all branches nationwide.
NIN registration is free, NIMC confirms. Photo credit: NIMC/X
Source: UGC

Nigerian replies NIMC

In response to NIMC's announcement on its X page, a Nigerian social media user, identified by the handle, outtaspaceg, passionately countered the claim.

The user wrote:

“STOP LYING!!! IT IS 5,000 NAIRA TO GET YOUR NIN EVEN THOUGH MOST NIGERIANS ARE NOT PLEASED WITH THE PAYMENT, WE MANAGE TO PAY IT. DON’T JUST SIT ON THE INTERNET AND WRITE IT IS FREE.”

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NIMC insists NIN is free

NIMC promptly addressed the concern raised by outtaspaceg, reaffirming their stance on the matter.

It stated: “Thank you for reaching us. We understand and appreciate your feedback. However, we want to clarify that NIN enrolment is free at all NIMC-approved centers nationwide. Any demand for payment is illegal, and NIMC does not authorize such charges.
“If you or anyone you know has been asked to pay for NIN enrolment, please report it immediately. Kindly send us a DM with details of the center (Location), to enable us to investigate and take necessary action.
“NIMC is committed to ensuring a smooth and transparent enrolment process for all Nigerians.”

See the X post below:

NIMC said it would continue its efforts to eliminate illegal charges and ensure transparency in the enrolment process which remains crucial to building trust with the Nigerian populace.

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What is NIMC?

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is a Nigerian government agency established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.

Its primary mandate is to establish, own, operate, maintain, and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria. NIMC is responsible for registering individuals and assigning a Unique National Identification Number (NIN) to each person.

Additionally, it issues General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) and provides identity verification services.

NIMC releases website for changing NIN names and date of birth

Legit.ng earlier reported that the National Identity Management Commission clarified that changes to name and date of birth can only be processed through their official website, selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng.

This announcement came in response to reports of numerous fake websites claiming to be the legitimate platform for the self-service modification introduced by the federal government.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.