MANDATORY USE OF THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REGULATIONS, 2017

Regulations expand the mandatory use of the National Identification Number across more government and private services. They target federal agencies, banks, telecom operators, and all residents. This ensures universal identity verification in public interactions.

What Is This Policy?

Updated regulations expanding the mandatory use of the NIN across a broader range of government and private sector services, replacing the 2015 regulations.

Who Does It Target?

All federal MDAs and state government agencies Banks, telecom operators, and all regulated institutions All Nigerians and legal residents NIMC as the NIN enrolment and verification authority

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Ensure universal NIN adoption and use across all government and regulated private sector services, making the NIN the single foundation of identity for all government-citizen interactions.

Key Features

Expanded Service Coverage: Broadens the categories of services requiring NIN verification beyond the 2015 list. Government Services: Requires NIN for access to federal government services including tax registration, passport, and voter registration. Financial Services: Banks must collect and verify NIN for all accounts and loan applications. Sanctions: Institutions that fail to implement NIN verification face sanctions from their sector regulators.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active - NIN verification infrastructure deployed across major institutions Coverage: Nationwide across all regulated institutions and government services Beneficiaries: Identity management system; consumers; anti-fraud systems Funding: NIMC and sector regulator operational budgets

How to Access

Enrol for NIN at NIMC enrolment centre before accessing designated services Existing account holders at banks and telecoms must provide NIN within the prescribed timeline NIMC Self Service mobile app available for enrolment booking Application method: Enrol at any NIMC centre or agent: https://www.nimc.gov.ng

Important Terms

Institutions must not activate accounts or provide designated services without NIN verification NIN enrolment is mandatory for all Nigerians aged 16 and above Double registration for more than one NIN is illegal

Official Resources

Website: https://www.nimc.gov.ng Contact: National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)

Legal Framework

The Mandatory NIN Use Regulations 2017 are issued under the NIMC Act 2007 and expand on the 2015 Regulations. They operate alongside the Data Protection Act 2023, the Cybercrimes Act 2015, the NCC SIM Registration Regulations, and the CBN KYC Guidelines. The Regulations align with the World Bank ID4D (Identification for Development) framework, the GSMA Mobile Identity guidelines, and the AU Digital Transformation Strategy's digital ID components.