World Bank increases Nigeria’s digital identity target to 180m,

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The World Bank has revised its target for Nigeria’s Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project, increasing the number of Nigerians to be issued the National Identification Number (NIN) from 148 million to 180 million.

This decision comes after Nigeria missed its original target of 148 million NINs by June 2024. However, the World Bank has acknowledged significant progress in the initiative, justifying an extension and expansion of the project. As of October 2024, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has successfully issued NINs to 115 million Nigerians and legal residents, according to Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC’s Director-General.

Despite this progress, the World Bank noted that a significant gap remains, with nearly half of Nigeria’s population, including women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, still lacking digital identification. This exclusion prevents these individuals from accessing essential government services, financial inclusion, and engaging fully in the digital economy.

The ID4D project is already making strides to address this issue through targeted enrollment of marginalized populations. The World Bank emphasized that the revised target of 180 million NINs aims to foster universal digital identity coverage, which will have a transformative impact on Nigerians’ ability to participate in the digital economy and access government services.

The Nigerian government requested a three-year extension for the project, which the World Bank approved in two stages. The first stage extended the project’s closing date from June 30, 2024, to December 31, 2024. During this time, the government has worked to design and launch the procurement of a new national identity management system that is modular, interoperable, and scalable. The second stage extension, proposed for an additional 24 months, aims to complete critical activities and achieve the project’s development objectives by December 31, 2026.

The total funding for the project is $430 million, with contributions from the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the European Investment Bank. So far, 53.16% of the funds have been disbursed. The final disbursement is contingent upon the amendment of the NIMC Act, which is currently undergoing legislative review. The amendment has already passed two readings in the National Assembly, with a third reading scheduled for January 2025. Once approved, the President is expected to assent to the Bill in February 2025.

Beyond legal reforms, the ID4D project is also supporting initiatives to build trust in the digital economy, ensuring that Nigerians can securely use their digital identities for online transactions.

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