World Bank sets new 180 million NIN target for Nigeria under ID4D project  

After reviewing the progress made by Nigeria in issuing the National Identification Number (NIN), the World Bank has set a new target of 180 million from the initial 148 million under the Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project.

The World Bank, acknowledging Nigeria’s progress, emphasized that efforts must be intensified to ensure the project’s success.

In its latest document on the project’s restructuring, the Bank noted that while Nigeria missed the initial target of 148 million NIN by June 2024, significant progress warranted extending the project and expanding its scope to include more Nigerians.

As of October this year, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) reported issuing NIN to 115 million Nigerians and legal residents.

According to the World Bank, despite this progress, nearly half of Nigerians, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged groups, still lack digital identification. This excludes the most vulnerable populations from accessing government assistance, financial inclusion, and participating in the digital economy.

The Bank noted that the ID4D project has already begun addressing this gap through targeted enrollment for the poor and vulnerable.

“This project aims to support universal NIN coverage by increasing the target for the number of NINs to be issued under the project from 148 million to 180 million. This will have a transformational impact by enabling Nigerians to utilize digital identification for prosperity,” the Bank stated.

It further disclosed that the Nigerian government, on May 31, 2024, requested a three-year extension of the ID4D project.

The World Bank explained that an agreement was reached on a two-stage restructuring and extension plan. The first stage, processed in June 2024, extended the closing date from June 30, 2024, to December 31, 2024, updated the results framework, and removed activities no longer aligned with government priorities.

According to the Bank, the six-month extension was granted to allow the Nigerian government to demonstrate its commitment to project implementation by designing and launching the procurement of a new national identity management system based on an open-source architecture that is modular, interoperable, and scalable.

“The government has successfully achieved this milestone, and, on this basis, the second stage extension for an additional 24 months is being proposed to allow for the completion of the remaining critical activities and the successful achievement of the project development objectives (PDO).

“The proposed restructuring would extend the closing date from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2026,” the Bank added.

The project’s total financing amounts to $430 million, comprising $115 million from the World Bank’s IDA, $100 million from the French Development Agency (AFD), and $215 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

According to the Bank, 53.16% of the funds have been disbursed, and Nigeria has made significant progress toward fulfilling the final disbursement condition: amending the NIMC Act to promote an inclusive and non-discriminatory legal and regulatory framework.

The proposed amendment has passed two readings in the National Assembly, with the third and final reading scheduled for January 2025. The President is expected to assent to the Bill in February 2025.

READ ALSO:FG, World Bank meet to advance Nigeria’s solid minerals sector

Beyond the legal reforms required for disbursement conditions, the Bank noted that the ID4D project supports legislative processes to build trust in the broader digital economy, enabling Nigerians to utilize their digital identities for secure online transactions.

“This includes the development of two critical laws, namely a cybersecurity Bill and the Nigeria Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill (NDEB). Both Bills aim to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy by addressing key aspects such as cybersecurity, e-signatures, and e-commerce.

“In addition, the project is supporting the development of a national data-sharing framework. These reforms are critical as they will enable Nigerian people and businesses to transact online in a safe and secure manner,” the Bank stated.