NIGERIA BIOMETRICS STANDARDS REGULATIONS, 2017
Regulation · Technology
Policy date: 2017-01-01
Regulations establish technical standards for the collection, storage, and exchange of biometric data in Nigeria to ensure security and interoperability. They target government agencies, technology vendors, and financial institutions using biometrics. This enables reliable identity verification across systems.
NIGERIA BIOMETRICS STANDARDS REGULATIONS, 2017
What Is This Policy?
Regulations establishing the technical standards for biometric data collection, storage, and exchange in Nigeria, ensuring that biometrics collected by NIMC and other government agencies are interoperable and secure.
Who Does It Target?
NIMC and all government agencies collecting biometric data Technology vendors supplying biometric equipment and software Financial institutions using biometric verification for KYC Security and law enforcement agencies
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Ensure that biometric data collected across Nigerian government systems meets international quality and interoperability standards, enabling reliable identity verification and system integration.
Key Features
Biometric Specifications: Prescribes technical specifications for fingerprint, facial image, and iris biometric capture including resolution, format, and quality thresholds. Data Formats: Mandates use of internationally accepted biometric data formats (ISO/IEC standards) for interoperability. Storage Standards: Sets security and encryption standards for storing biometric data. Exchange Protocols: Defines protocols for sharing biometric data between authorised government systems.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: All government biometric programmes in Nigeria Beneficiaries: Nigerian identity system; all users of biometric services Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
All government agencies collecting biometrics must comply with the Regulations Biometric equipment must be certified against the prescribed standards before deployment Non-compliant biometric systems must be upgraded within prescribed timelines Application method: Engage NIMC for technical guidance on biometric standard compliance.
Important Terms
Biometric data is sensitive personal data subject to data protection laws Non-standard biometric data may not be accepted for NIN linkage Biometric data collected without compliance cannot be integrated into the National Identity Database
Official Resources
Website: https://www.nimc.gov.ng Contact: National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
Legal Framework
The Nigeria Biometrics Standards Regulations 2017 are issued under the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007. They operate alongside the Data Protection Act 2023, the Cybercrimes Act 2015, the Mandatory NIN Use Regulations, and the Nigeria Immigration Service Act (on biometric passports). International alignment is with the ICAO Document 9303 on Machine Readable Travel Documents, the ISO/IEC 19794 Biometric Data Interchange Formats, and the NIST SP 800-76 Biometric Specifications standards.