NIMC temporarily suspends third-party agents from NIN enrollment ahead of CBN deadline

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has temporarily suspended Front-End Partners (FEPs) from participating in National Identification Number (NIN) enrolments. This decision, announced by NIMC’s Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote during a training session for revalidated FEPs in Abuja, comes just two months before the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) deadline for the electronic revalidation of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and NIN by January 31, 2024.

The CBN’s directive also includes placing all bank accounts without BVN and NIN on “Post no Debit” effective April 2024. NIMC’s suspension of third-party services is part of a broader revalidation exercise aimed at cleansing the enrollment process and addressing outstanding debts owed to these agents. Coker-Odusote emphasized that this initiative focuses on ensuring data integrity in the country’s identity database rather than targeting a specific group.

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NIMC scrutinizes debts amidst sanitization efforts

The decision to suspend NIN enrolment activities by third-party agents at all FEP centres is a strong move, according to the NIMC DG. With this temporary halt, the commission aims to conduct a thorough audit of claims made by FEPs, ensuring compliance with the highest data security standards. The phased revalidation exercise intends to address debts inherited by the current administration, some linked to questionable invoices and claims.

Coker-Odusote stated, ”Don’t forget that I inherited huge debts owed FEPs for over two years. Some of the invoices and claims were questionable, requiring proper auditing.  The rot in the process and system left me with no option but to take deliberate steps toward sanitising the enrolment process.

“And to this end, I directed that NIN enrolment activities at all FEP centres be suspended temporarily, pending the outcome of a revalidation exercise.”

Insights into NIMC’s expansion and intentions

In 2020, NIMC initiated a comprehensive drive to expand the NIN database by licensing 203 agents nationwide, including private sector agents and state governments/public sector institutions. This saw the inclusion of key public sector institutions and the announcement of plans to extend the network of agents for NIN enrollment across the country. The criteria for consideration included a proven track record of successful performance to enhance the efficiency and reach of data collection and NIN issuance processes.

Approximately three months earlier, NIMC revealed its plan to broaden the network of agents for NIN enrollment nationwide. As a part of this expansion initiative, the Commission issued a notice encouraging various organizations to express their interest in participating in this national undertaking.

The invitation was open to a diverse array of entities, including Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), startup firms, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

The criteria for consideration involved having a demonstrated history of successful performance in analogous roles, aiming to improve the efficiency and scope of data collection and NIN issuance processes.

Navigating FEP suspension, overseas challenges, and the imperative of data integrity in NIN management

In an interview with digital verification expert and Founder of Youverify, Gbenga Odegbami, he highlighted that the temporary suspension of Front-End Partners (FEP) is not expected to significantly impact the BVN-NIN harmonization.

This is due to substantial progress made in NIN issuance during SIM registration. However, there may be disruptions in overseas enrolment centres operated by FEPs, prompting NIMC to actively address this challenge by increasing capacity abroad.

Emphasizing the need to audit FEPs, Odegbami pointed out the importance of addressing outstanding debts and ensuring data security. The inherited challenges in validating these claims led to the suspension, allowing the implementation of a reliable verification system essential for maintaining the integrity of NIMC’s operations.

In terms of minimizing disruptions in citizen enrollment, he mentioned that NIMC is proactively working on a digital enrollment system. While acknowledging potential overseas disruptions due to the FEP program’s suspension, NIMC aims to reduce these challenges by enabling people to enrol digitally, thereby minimizing the necessity for physical visits.

Gbenga Odegbami also said that the suspension aligns with NIMC’s overarching goal of ensuring data integrity. Addressing FEP claims and conducting a thorough audit are seen as crucial steps, and he is anticipating long-term benefits such as a more secure and reliable National Identity Number (NIN) system.

In his words, ”I think data integrity and the suspension of FEP are different things. However, data integrity is always important when dealing with personally identifiable information of people.”

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