The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has advised Nigerians to beware of individuals or entities demanding money from them for the National Identification Number (NIN) registration.
Many Nigerians have decried extortion at various NIMC centres nationwide for their NIN registration.
It was gathered that some NIMC agents demand payments between N1,000 and N5,000 for NIN registrations.
In March, an X user narrated how some staff of the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State were seen extorting between N1000 and N4000 for NIN registration in the local government.
The X user urged the NIMC to address the issue.
Many other Nigerians have had similar experiences. This has resulted in a demand for the digitalization of the NIN registration process to curb this extortion.
Amid these reports, the NIMC insists that NIN registration comes at no cost.
The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke.
Adegoke noted that the amounts charged for NIN enrolment at NIMC centres are unauthorised.
“The Commission does not charge nor authorise any Staff or its Front End Partners (FEP) to charge applicants for the NIN enrolment,” said Adegoke.
To this end, the commission has threatened to withdraw the licenses of erring FEPs and sanction defaulters according to the provisions of the law.