Uyai-Abasi Etido
The National Identity Management Commissioner, NIMC has stated that Nigerians applying for passports will be charged N1000 in Nigeria for the verification of their National Identification Number.
According to them, “NIMC and NIS have agreed on a revised applicant journey that will significantly improve the speed of passport issuance /re-issuance and reduce the traffic visiting the NIS office(s). The NIN service, fees, and the new NIS process will go live on 1st April.” he added.
“Nigerians will pay N1000 for NIN verification in Nigeria, $5 in other African countries, and $15 in other countries.NIN is supposed to tie an individual’s record together.
“An individual’s demographic data, fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture, other biometric data, and digital signature are supposed to be lodged in the National Identity Database and confirmed and verified through NIN. Recently, the Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Idris, blamed the delay in the issuance of passports on the integration of data between NIS, and NIMC.”