NIMC HARMONISATION AND INTEGRATION POLICY

A Policy harmonises multiple government identity databases into the National Identity Database using the National Identification Number. It targets federal and state agencies, banks, telecoms, and all Nigerian citizens. This reduces identity fraud and enables seamless verification across sectors.

What Is This Policy?

The policy framework for harmonising Nigeria's multiple government identity databases into the National Identity Database managed by NIMC, using the National Identification Number (NIN) as the common unique identifier.

Who Does It Target?

All federal and state government agencies with identity databases Banks, telecoms, and financial institutions linked to NIN NIMC as the central identity authority All Nigerian citizens and legal residents

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Eliminate duplicate identity records, reduce identity fraud, enable seamless identity verification across sectors, and position the NIN as the foundation of Nigeria's digital identity infrastructure.

Key Features

NIN as Universal ID: Mandates the NIN as the single unique identifier to be used across all government services and regulated sectors. Database Linkage: Connects NIMC's National Identity Database with INEC, CAC, FIRS, immigration, banks, and telecoms databases. De-duplication: Identifies and eliminates duplicate records across linked databases to ensure each Nigerian has one unique digital identity. API Integration: Provides APIs for real-time NIN verification by authorised institutions.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active - NIN-SIM linkage and NIN-BVN linkage implemented Coverage: Nationwide, all government and regulated private sector databases Beneficiaries: All Nigerians through improved identity management and reduced fraud Funding: Federal Government; World Bank and donor support

How to Access

All Nigerians must enrol for a NIN at any NIMC enrolment centre Institutions requiring NIN linkage must integrate with the NIMC verification system Sensitive database integrations require data sharing agreements with NIMC Application method: Enrol for a NIN at any NIMC enrolment centre or through the NIMC mobile enrolment app.

Important Terms

NIN enrolment is mandatory for all Nigerians and legal residents Multiple NIN registrations are a criminal offence NIN data is protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023

Official Resources

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

Legal Framework

The NIMC Harmonisation and Integration Policy operates under the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007, the Mandatory NIN Use Regulations (2015 and 2017), and the Data Protection Act 2023. It aligns with the National Digital Identity Policy, the NCC SIM Registration Regulations, and the World Bank ID4D (Identification for Development) Framework. The ISO/IEC 29115 Entity Authentication Assurance standard and the ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card standards provide technical benchmarks.