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The World Bank has announced the disbursement of $45.5 million to Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project. This funding aims to significantly boost the enrollment of Nigerians for the National Identification Number (NIN).
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According to the ‘Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project’ report published by the World Bank, the project targets registering more Nigerians for the NIN to enhance digital identification across the country. The funds have been released in multiple tranches between December 2021 and April 2024, with disbursements still ongoing.
The $45.5 million disbursed so far represents approximately 10.5 percent of the total project cost, which is estimated at $430 million. The financial support includes a mix of loans and grants, contingent on the enactment of the Nigerian Data Protection Act in June last year.
While the initial deadline of June 1, 2024, for the enrollment of 148 million Nigerians for the NIN has passed, the project is described as ‘moderately satisfactory’ by the World Bank. As of April 2024, NIMC reported that 107.3 million NINs had been issued.
This development follows a recent advisory from NIMC warning Nigerians against unauthorized websites harvesting personal data. The warning underscores the importance of data protection in the ongoing digital identification initiative.
The World Bank’s funding is pivotal for the institutionalization of robust data protection measures, ensuring the secure and efficient implementation of the ID4D project. This initiative is crucial for Nigeria’s digital economy, aiming to enhance the accessibility and reliability of national identification.
