Over 9m Nigerians at risk of exclusion from National identity registry — Report
By Sodiq Adelakun
Less than one percent of poor and vulnerable individuals in Nigeria have their National Identity Number (NIN), potentially excluding them from the Federal Government’s cash transfer program, according to the World Bank.
The bank’s Implementation Completion and Results Report on the National Social Safety Nets Project revealed that by June 30, 2022, the target was to have 20 percent of individuals registered in the National Social Registry with a valid NIN from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
However, as of December 31, 2022, only 0.10 percent of the total poor and vulnerable Nigerians on the registry possessed an NIN.
On the reason for the failure to hit the target, the document read, “The expansion of the National ID was very slow and beyond the control of the program. NASSP used other means to verify the identity of the beneficiaries collecting the CTs.”
The Federal Government is currently reviewing and expanding the National Social Register, a project that aims to provide support to the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.
However, there is a concern that approximately 9.66 million individuals may be excluded from the registry if they do not obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).
Out of the total 9.67 million beneficiaries, only around 9,670 individuals currently possess NIN. Despite efforts by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the issuance of NINs has faced delays and instances of extortion. Additionally, there have been technical issues with the NIN verification portal, particularly in 2022.
To address the challenges faced in NIN/passport clearance, the Federal Government has relocated the NIMC from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to the Ministry of Interior.
In an attempt to provide a more convenient solution, the NIMC has introduced a self-service option that allows Nigerians to enroll for their NIN using their smartphones. However, the implementation of this solution is still pending.
In 2016, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank collaborated to establish the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to improve Nigeria’s social safety nets and social protection system to end severe poverty and increase opportunities for all citizens.
The agency oversees the National Social Safety Net Programme and reports to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.
The social safety net programme, which was initially set to end by June 2022, received a $500million credit from the World Bank. However, due to payment delays, the programme was extended until December 2022.
To further support the programme, the World Bank approved an additional $800m to scale it up until 2024. This programme is one of the fuel subsidy palliatives implemented by the current administration.
In commemoration of the 2023 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, President Bola Tinubu launched a social safety net initiative that disburses N25,000 to 15 million households for three months.
