World Bank Extends Nigeria’s $430m NIN Enrollment Facility to 2026
The World Bank has extended a $430 million facility to support Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment project until 2026, following the country’s failure to meet its June 2024 target of 148 million enrollments. As of May 2024, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) reported 107.34 million enrollments, leaving a gap of 40.66 million.
The extension is detailed in the World Bank’s “Restructuring Paper on a Proposed Project Restructuring of Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project,” which rates the project as moderately satisfactory. Approved in February 2020, the project aims to increase the number of people with national IDs and has received $430 million in financing from various sources, including the International Development Association (IDA), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Despite the project’s disbursement rate standing at 37.37% in June 2024, delays have been attributed to critical disbursement conditions required for nationwide NIN enrollment. The World Bank predicts 85% population coverage by 2027, viewing the ID as a cornerstone of the digital economy.
To date, Nigeria has met two of three key conditions for the project’s progress: the enactment of a data protection law in June 2023 and the acceptability of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) in March 2024. The final condition, amending the NIMC Act to promote an inclusive and nondiscriminatory legal framework, is pending with the National Assembly and expected by September 2024.
Implementation delays, primarily due to prolonged approval processes and constraints related to disbursement conditions, have hindered key activities, particularly under component 2, which focuses on establishing a robust and inclusive foundational ID system. The NIMC is expanding its capacity to store 250 million NIN records, up from its current 80 million, with this update expected by March 2025.
NIMC CEO Abisoye Coker-Odusote emphasized the importance of delivering a future-proof biometric matching solution for Nigeria’s growing population. Despite criticism for data breaches and slowed enrollment rates, the NIMC aims to enhance the resilience, security, and reliability of the National Identity Management System (NIMS).
