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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians living abroad can now obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) remotely through accredited enrolment centres outside the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the commission explained that the overseas enrolment initiative allows eligible Nigerians to complete their biometric registration without travelling back to Nigeria.
The programme, introduced in 2019, operates through a network of licensed partners across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
Under the arrangement, NIMC authorises Nigerian firms that work with partner organisations in host countries to capture applicants’ biometric data—such as fingerprints and facial images—alongside required documentation on behalf of the commission.
According to Ayodele Babalola, Technical Adviser on Media and Communications to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, the initiative has gained increasing importance as the federal government expands the use of the NIN across public and financial services.
“The NIN is now required for a growing number of official transactions,” Babalola said.
He noted that since March 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria has mandated the use of the NIN for bank account operations. The identification number is also required for passport applications and renewals, as well as for SIM card registration under regulations enforced by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Nigeria’s diaspora population is estimated at more than 17 million people, according to data from the International Organization for Migration, making it one of the largest in Africa.
The World Bank also ranks Nigeria among the world’s top recipients of diaspora remittances, with annual inflows exceeding $20 billion in recent years.
Despite their significant economic contribution, many Nigerians living abroad are not yet included in the national identity database. This gap has often limited their ability to access government services or renew official documents due to missing identity credentials.
To address this challenge, NIMC said Nigerians enrolled abroad can retrieve and manage their NIN through the NIMC Mobile Digital ID App, available on both Android and iOS devices.
The application provides users with a virtual identity card containing a QR code and allows individuals to tokenise or mask their NIN when sharing it for verification purposes.
In addition, the commission offers an online self-service portal where registered users can update personal information such as names, dates of birth, and phone numbers remotely.
NIMC advised prospective applicants to consult its official website to locate authorised enrolment centres and verify licensed partners operating in their countries of residence.
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