NIN Now Mandatory for Nigerian Passport - Mohammed Babandede

As from January 2018, all Nigerians applying for new or renewed International Passport must have their Na­tional Identification Num­ber (NIN) provided by the National Identity Manage­ment Commission (NIMC).

This new measure, which also applies to foreigners ap­plying for new or renewal of residence permits, was an­nounced by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, after a meeting of Nation­al Database Harmonisation Committee at the Aso Rock Villa yesterday.
The challenge of harmo­nising database of Nigeri­ans in the country has been lingering for years as differ­ent government and private agencies dissipate time and resources engaging in sepa­rate biometric data registra­tion for their official records and purposes.
The Immigration boss acknowledged this when he spoke to State House Corre­spondents after the meeting chaired by Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
“The harmonisation of data requires all of us to act but the biggest problem we are facing is that everybody is deploying their own tech­nology.
“There is a practical com­mitment to this; we have agreed that from 2018 1st January, anybody who is going to apply for Nigerian passport, whether renew­al or fresh, must first have a NIMC number, that is Na­tional Identity Number.
“Why we are doing this is that we want to ease do­ing business in Nigeria. There is no need for you to go and have your biomet­ric captured by NIMC and then you come and capture again with the Nigeria Im­migrations Service.
“Once you give us your NIMC number, we will collect the biometric from NIMC and produce your passport. That is the inten­tion for all other agencies.
“I have also given direc­tive that any foreigner, non-Nigerian resident in Nige­ria, will not get his permit renewed until he or she has a NIMC number.