MANDATORY USE OF THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REGULATION, 2015
Regulation · Governance
Policy date: 2017-01-01
A Regulation mandates the use of the National Identification Number for accessing various services. It targets banks, telecom operators, government agencies, and all Nigerians. This drives adoption and reduces identity fraud.
MANDATORY USE OF THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REGULATION, 2015
What Is This Policy?
A regulation mandating the use of the NIN as a unique identifier across designated government and private sector services in Nigeria, requiring institutions to verify NIN before providing certain services.
Who Does It Target?
Banks, insurance companies, and financial institutions Telecommunications operators Government service delivery agencies All Nigerians seeking designated services
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Drive NIN adoption, eliminate identity fraud, and establish the NIN as the universal identifier across Nigeria's formal economy and public services.
Key Features
Designated Services: Lists government and private sector services for which NIN verification is mandatory. Institutional Obligations: Requires service providers to collect, verify, and record the NIN of all customers accessing designated services. Compliance Timeline: Set timelines within which existing customers must provide their NIN to service providers. Enforcement: Non-compliant service providers face regulatory sanction from their sector regulators.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Superseded - 2017 Regulations issued; provisions substantially continued Coverage: Nationwide Beneficiaries: Identity management system; all service users Funding: Not applicable
How to Access
All residents must enrol for a NIN before accessing designated services Service providers must integrate with NIMC for NIN verification See the 2017 Mandatory NIN Regulation for current requirements Application method: Enrol for a NIN at any NIMC enrolment centre.
Important Terms
Regulations were updated in 2017 with broader scope Non-possession of a NIN does not strip a person of their legal rights Service providers may not deny emergency services on the basis of NIN non-presentation
Official Resources
Website: https://www.nimc.gov.ng Contact: National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
Legal Framework
The Mandatory NIN Use Regulation 2015 is issued under the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2007. It operates alongside the Cybercrimes Act 2015, the Data Protection Act 2023, and the CBN KYC (Know Your Customer) Guidelines on identity verification for financial services. The Regulation aligns with the ID4D (Identification for Development) framework of the World Bank and the AU Digital Identity framework standards.