Frequently
Asked Questions about NIMC & the National Identity Management Systems
The National Identity
Management Commission (NIMC) is the Federal Government Agency established by
the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, to create, own, operate, maintain and manage the
National Identity Database, register citizens and legal residents, assign
unique National Identification Number (NIN) and issue Smart Identity Cards to
those registered individuals, as well as to harmonize and integrate existing
identification databases in Nigeria.
The NIMC broad mandate
generally can be categorized into three (3) major tracks:
1.
Establish the National Identity
Management Commission as the primary legal, regulatory and institutional
mechanism for implementing Government’s reform initiative as contained in the
National Policy and NIMC Act, generally and in particular Sections 1, 2, 5, 6
and 14 respectively;
2.
Wind-up and take over the assets and liabilities of the former Department of National
Civic Registration (DNCR) which no longer exists including the personnel in
both the State and Local Government Offices nationwide
3.
Establish, operate and manage the National Identity Management System (NIMS) including to:
·
Create and operate a
National Identity Database;
·
Issue Unique National
Identification Numbers to qualified citizens and legal residents;
·
Issue a Smart ID Card
to every registered person;
·
Provide a secure means
to access the National Identity Database so that an individual can irrefutably
assert his/her identity (Person Identification Verification Services (PIVS)
Infrastructure);
·
Harmonize and
integrate Identity Databases in Government Agencies to achieve resource
optimization; and
·
Collaborate with
private and or public sector institutions to deliver on the National Identity
Management System (NIMS).
The NIMS
comprises a National Identity Database (also known as a Central Identity
Repository or Register, CIDR), assignment of a unique National Identification
Number (NIN), issuance of a chip-based secure identity card, provision of a
secure network of access to the National Identity Database and a means to
irrefutably prove or assert the identity of an individual as well as the
harmonization of existing identity databases in government agencies. The most important
thing about the NIMS is that it will provide a Universal Identification
Infrastructure for the entire country. This will help bring real and
recognizable benefits to the Government, each of us - individually and
collectively, and also for legal residents in Nigeria.
The Implementation is
divided into two broad components;
·
Front-end
Services: This focuses on provision and management of Enrolment and
Enrolment centres, deployment and management of Verification services.
·
Back-end Services:
This focuses on the provision and management of connectivity from enrolment
centres to the National Identity Database (NID), issuance and management of the
National Identification Number (NIN) and National Identity Card, management of
the National Identity Database and its components and the management of the
Disaster recovery sites.
The NIMC is committed
to an effective and proper communication of the National Identity Management
System to every citizen and legal resident to meet their specific needs in more
than four (4) different major Nigerian languages. In particular, the NIMC has
developed an Awareness and Communication Plan that will amongst other things:
1.
Popularize the
perception that the unique National Identification Number (NIN) is the most
important universal identification infrastructure to be delivered by NIMC;
2.
Explain how the NIN
will be used to confirm and or assert individual identity in various
circumstances and situations and build citizen acceptance and buy-in; and
3.
Popularize the
benefits of the NIMS and the use of NIN in Nigeria.
To enable the achievement
of the above strategies, a combination of mass awareness campaign, enrolment
process awareness campaign, pre-enrolment awareness campaign, education
campaign, enrolment awareness campaign and authentication stage campaign will
be adopted for all the communication stages.
The project is
being funded through Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The private sector
is investing in the establishment of enrolment centers and capturing of the
data countrywide. The private sector will also invest in the verification
services infrastructure and recoup its investment through revenue from
verification services
The
last ID card project was a turnkey project, a contract awarded by Ministry of
Interior. The deliverable was a closed system managed by the foreign
contractors and focused on Identity (ID) Card Issuance. The data was not made
available for verification except through special request from law enforcement
agencies.
The
enrolment was one off. It did not provide for continuous registration and did
not provide the capability for updates in the event of marriage, name and
address changes etc. It depended on government’s periodic action and investment
for sustainability.
The
existing NIMS project is a PPP between NIMC and two (2) FEPs. Private sector is
investing its own money. The project is managed by NIMC and Nigerians. The
delivered system is an open system providing a National Database of Nigerian citizens and
legal residents, which is available via the verification service to
individuals, businesses, organizations and the government to establish and
confirm a person’s identity both in online and offline modes.
NIMS issues all eligible persons a unique National Identification Number (NIN) and a Smart card that contains some of the personal information in the chip. NIMS provides permanent enrolment centers thus ensuring continuity, enabling individuals to register as they turn 16 year old, pick up their NIN or Card and update their records whenever necessary.
NIMS issues all eligible persons a unique National Identification Number (NIN) and a Smart card that contains some of the personal information in the chip. NIMS provides permanent enrolment centers thus ensuring continuity, enabling individuals to register as they turn 16 year old, pick up their NIN or Card and update their records whenever necessary.
It’s a Private
Public Partnership (PPP) programme based on a sustainable investment and
revenue model. A concession has been granted to the FEPs for ten years. The
Private sector is managing the Enrolment of residents and the provision of
verification services. The private sector is investing its money and therefore
has a vested interest in ensuring that the project works in the most
sustainable manner to ensure that it recoups its investment over a period of ten
(10) years
About the NIN & the National Identity Card
The National
Identification Number (NIN) is a non-intelligent set of numeric assigned to an
individual upon successful enrollment. The NIN once issued to a person cannot
be used again, (that is, it cannot be issued to another person even if the
previous person is dead). It is the NIN that helps to tie all records about a
person in the database and used to check the identity verified.
Every citizen
from the age of 16 years and above and legal residents will be able to enroll
for the NIN. The process will be the same whether you choose the self-service
or you require an assisted service. (Arrangements are currently being made to
ensure that all persons from birth can be registered and enrollment of
biometrics from the age of five (5) can be achieved). You will be required to
provide your demographic data, fingerprints, photograph and digital signature
for enrollment into the National Identity Database by presenting yourself at
your convenience at a designated location for the enrollment exercise
There are
Registration Centers in all the 36 NIMC State offices in the capital of each
State and FCT and with time, there will also be centers in all the 774 Local
Government offices nationwide. There are also plans to establish additional
registration centers and mobile registration centers in strategic locations for
easy access to enrolment
You have to
record your demographic and biometric data because under the National
Identification Number (NIN) System, the number assigned to you is used to lock
together your basic identifying details (electronically) that are very hard or
impossible to forge, steal, forget or lose with a combination of your unique
personal features – electronic records of your face and fingerprints. Also, once we record your
fingerprints, facial picture you may not need to do so again until another 5
(five) years after. In future, your iris scan will be required when the NIMS is fully rolled-out. Your
biometric data are unique to you, it is the bedrock of the unique
identification system
he NIMC Act in
Section 18 provides for every eligible person who, at the commencement of the
NIMC Act must have attained the age of 16 years to obtain a NIN and an ID Card.
Children less than 16 years of age will be issued a NIN only and an interim ID
card. The interim card is a card held by persons under 16 as proof of
registration in NIMS and will not have biometric data nor payment solution on
it. As soon as the process for issuing cards to persons under age 16 is activated,
this interim ID Card will be discontinued.
The NIMC Act in
Section 16 sets out the criteria for eligible persons as follows:
1.
Any person who is a
citizen of Nigeria;
2.
Any person, whether or
not is a citizen of Nigeria, who is lawfully and permanently resident in
Nigeria; and
3.
Any non-citizen of
Nigeria who is lawfully resident in Nigeria for a period of two years or more.
Therefore, every eligible person who, at the
commencement of the NIMC Act must have attained the age of 16 years qualifies.
Yes. If a NIN is
falsely obtained and if the ID card is lost or has an error, is misused or
discovered to have been improperly issued etc. The ID card remains the property
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
You can assert
your identity with or without a physical card. However, a Smart Identity Card
will be issued after the NIN has been generated. Depending on the level of
identity assurance required for a particular transaction, an individual’s
identity will either be checked visually by comparing the picture on the
identity card with the facials or through entry of the NIN or biometric into
the web-based facility such that the prior stored information on the individual
can be used to confirm his/her identity. Match on card can also be used; this
involves comparing live fingerprint with fingerprint on the card, by the use of
a Card Access Device.
No. The NIN is unique
to an individual and does not change once assigned; it remains with the
individual for life. If forgotten, the individual will be sent the same NIN.
Amongst other
reasons, this is primarily to help promote financial inclusion especially for
the unbanked
Yes, it will because the payment solution can be activated
The Identity Card
is FREE. However there is a cost for any
card replacement e.g. in the event of a loss, update, damage, expiration etc.
This is the age
that would be most frequently engaged in activities that require identity card.
They would be responsible for the card and derive benefits from the card.
However the plan is to issue NIN from birth. Identity cards can also be issued
to those aged under 16 years but the process will commence at a later phase.
All the features
on the ID Card have been designed with reliable and proven technology, highly
complex pattern that can hardly be created without the proper equipment, high
resolution, in various colors, special links and security pigments and in
conformity with relevant Identity management standards. Appropriate encryption
technology has also been used to ensure the safety of data.
The Front- End
Partners (FEPs) are responsible for personalization and issuance of the ID
card. However, to ensure rapid and efficient service delivery, third party
postal services as necessary, would be utilized. It is expected that most cards
will be collected at the enrolment center by the owner because of challenges
due to lack of proper addresses
Yes, there will
be two or three, but stringent measures will be put in place to ensure that ID
cards are not collected by the wrong persons.
Information regarding
the ID card, NIN and NIMS as a whole will always be available and updated on
the NIMC website: http://www.nimc.gov.ng. Questions, complaints or enquiries could also be directed
to the NIMC Customer Care Service through e-mail: customercare@nimc.gov.ng or
telephone call via the contact telephone numbers available on the NIMC
website.. NIMC also plans to provide Contact centers across the country, where
a person can visit or call to lodge complaints or make enquiries etc.
Provision of
fiber connection to identified Federal government agencies and the inclusion of
National Identification Number in other databases. Secondly, through the implementation
of a harmonization and integration program which include the provision of
common standards for demographic and biometric data capture, verification
procedures and platforms.
The front- End
Partners (FEPs) are responsible for data capture during enrolment. There is
currently no arrangement for the banks to act as data capture agents but there
is a possibility in the future.
No. There is no
contract between NIMC and (DMBs) therefore, there is no SLA. However, NIMC will
provide the Terms of Operation for anyone using its services. Also because the
identity verification and authentication services of the NIMC will be used for
KYC and in the banking sector SLAs will be provided.
The
FEPs are special purpose vehicles comprising a consortia of companies engaged
by the Commission as concessionaires, on a public-private partnership basis to
manage the front-end operations of the NIMS as it relates to
enrolment/registration of persons and the production and personalization of the
ID card and the deployment of card Acceptance Devices (CADs).
There
are two (2) FEPs, namely: CHAMS Consortium Limited and OneSecureCard Limited.
The NIMC signed a Concession
Agreement with the consortium of
firms known as the Front-End Partners (FEPs) on a Build, Operate and Transfer
(BOT) arrangement to populate the National Identity Database and assist in
establishing and managing the Front-End Operation Components of the NIMS
infrastructure which also includes amongst other things the following:
1.
Design, build,
customize, construct, supply and install equipment, operate and maintain
mobile, temporary and permanent registration centre for the purposes of
rendering data capture services;
2.
Establish Card
production and or card personalization services using Smart Identity Cards;
3.
Acquire data from
Nigeria citizens and persons legally resident in Nigeria as provided for in the
NIMC Act; and
4.
Deploy Card Acceptance
Devices (CADs) across the country for purposes of ID verification and
authentication.
The NIMC is
providing a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the Front-End Partners and
all its stakeholder agencies with authentication, auditing and account. There
is provision for the use of encryption technology to ensure safety of data.
NIMC undertook a
Privacy Impact Assessment study which informed the formulation of the privacy
policy. This policy is available on the NIMC website. It also has a policy on
the regulation and guidelines for accessing the NIMS.
The NIMC Act sets out a number of government security and financial crime control agencies to whom NIMC is obliged to provide personal information subject to a court order. They include, the State Security Service, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Nigeria Police Force, etc
The NIMC Act sets out a number of government security and financial crime control agencies to whom NIMC is obliged to provide personal information subject to a court order. They include, the State Security Service, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Nigeria Police Force, etc
NIMC has adopted
global best practice in project management, including the adoption of quality
assurance of all deliverables and implementation of a change management system.
NIMC has recently engaged the KPMG as project managers to sustain its policy on
quality assurance.
There is a
communication strategy plan for public education and awareness. The NIMC and
FEPs are currently involved in the development of various awareness and
sensitization programmes based on the strategy document. These will soon be
implemented via training courses, workshops etc.
NIMC is also committed to effective capacity building through in-house and external training courses.
NIMC is also committed to effective capacity building through in-house and external training courses.
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