It is worth noting that Nigeria’s various identity management databases are not designed to be interoperable. This means that if a citizen lacks an NIN to open a bank account, they cannot use a PVC with the same personal data.
By Michael Akuchie
As Nigerians continued to feel the effects of a government-sanctioned lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 a few years ago, the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, made an interesting announcement. He declared December 2020 as the deadline for citizens to register and link their unique National Identity Number (NIN) to their SIM cards.
Failure to comply would result in SIM blockage, preventing users from making or receiving calls, effectively rendering the affected SIM card useless.
The fear of having their phone lines blocked forced millions of Nigerians to brave the pandemic and flood the nearest enrolment centres to register for the NIN. This led to overcrowding at several offices, contradicting the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on social distancing. It wasn’t long before reports began to emerge about enrolment agents receiving bribes to fast-track the process for select citizens.
The NIN was the country’s latest identity management initiative, introduced to work alongside the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and SIM card registration. The idea behind the NIN was to ensure that every citizen had a unique number containing personal information such as fingerprint data and biometric data. According to a blog post by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the NIN is useful for verifying a person’s identity in various scenarios, including travel, financial transactions, and retirement confirmation for pensioners.
Before the NIN, a BVN was all that was needed to open a bank account, either at a traditional bank or with a fintech service, and once verified, no further identification was required, making it a convenient process. However, the introduction of the NIN added a new layer of complexity for Nigerians, as it became necessary to provide both a BVN and NIN when opening an account.
While the government claimed this would improve the delivery of services, many viewed it as an unnecessary duplication of identity management systems. With the inclusion of the SIM card registration and Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), both of which also require user data, there were now four systems to navigate. Ironically, the NIMC stated that the NIN would be used to verify voter eligibility during elections, yet the PVC has always been the primary identification used for voting.
Interestingly, in April this year, the Nigerian government announced a new three-in-one national identity card that would serve multiple purposes: bank verification, social intervention, and an ECOWAS national biometric identity card. This new card adds to the already complex mix of identity management systems, including the NIN, BVN, and PVC.
For many citizens already grappling with rising inflation and soaring fuel prices, the prospect of queuing up for yet another enrollment process feels like yet another burden, adding to the existing strain of daily survival in an increasingly challenging economy.
According to ISACA, a national identity system plays a crucial role in enabling both government and private organisations, like banks and insurance companies, to verify individuals’ identities. This verification process helps deter crimes such as impersonation and ensures that government resources are allocated to the correct recipients. The primary purpose of the NIN is to confirm a person’s citizenship and provide access to essential services, including healthcare and public transport.
The BVN helps financial institutions verify the identity of customers for Know Your Customer (KYC) purposes, which is the same reason telecommunications companies require user data before activating a new SIM card. For the PVC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mandates that prospective voters possess the card, which assists the electoral agency in confirming one’s identity.
In the United States of America, a Social Security Number (SSN) enables citizens to access a range of services, including bank account opening, driver’s licence registration, federal loans, unemployment benefits, and more.
By using the same set of numbers for various functions, it becomes easier for authorities to verify one’s identity. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Nigeria, where multiple identity management systems are in place. Due to the lack of harmonisation in identity management, citizens may need to provide more than one form of identification to access the same services.
It is worth noting that Nigeria’s various identity management databases are not designed to be interoperable. This means that if a citizen lacks an NIN to open a bank account, they cannot use a PVC with the same personal data. The absence of information sharing leads to significant inconvenience for people, particularly in emergency situations.
Another disadvantage of having multiple identity databases is that individuals must enrol in each of them. This not only wastes government resources, which are needed to manage each system, but also consumes considerable time for citizens. For instance, spending a week on NIN enrolment and then an equal amount of time or more on PVC registration is frustrating and inefficient.
Instead of duplicating identity management systems, Nigerian authorities should consider harmonising the databases. For example, introducing a single card capable of performing the functions of the existing cards could streamline the process. Implementing this idea would not only make things more convenient for citizens but also allow resources originally intended for developing and issuing the proposed card to be redirected towards more pressing needs such as infrastructure and healthcare.
Aside from unifying the identity management databases, the government should aim to transition the system to a fully digital format rather than relying on traditional analog methods. A digital identity system is easier to manage, reduces the risk of human error, and can save the government valuable time and resources.
A well-implemented digital identity management system allows citizens to access essential services such as financial inclusion and social security. It also helps the government verify citizens’ identities, thereby reducing the likelihood of impersonation.
However, managing multiple identity databases is a capital-intensive endeavour that strains Nigeria’s resources. It is also cumbersome for citizens to enrol in more than one identification system. Establishing a single, unique method for confirming identity would replace the fragmented systems currently in place and pave the way for a more efficient and effective system that benefits both the government and its citizens.
Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with four years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.
Cover photo credit: Daily Trust