Recent allegations have emerged in opposition to some brokers of the Nationwide Identification Administration Fee (NIMC) in Abuja, who’re reportedly accumulating unlawful charges from candidates in search of to falsify their dates of beginning on the Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN) database.
A number of candidates who spoke to BusinessTimes alleged that NIMC officers and their intermediaries had been charging as excessive as N45,000 to change dates of beginning, notably for these hoping to satisfy age necessities for federal authorities job alternatives, army recruitment, and different official processes.
In keeping with these candidates, the fraudulent observe has turn out to be widespread throughout some NIMC-accredited centres within the Federal Capital Territory, particularly in satellite tv for pc cities the place oversight is restricted.
Determined candidates allegedly pay to have their particulars manipulated to allow them to both seem youthful, relying on the factors of the roles they’re focusing on.
Though the official correction payment was reviewed to N28,574 earlier this yr, a number of candidates allege they had been charged between N45,000 and N55,000 by NIMC brokers and middlemen.
The extortion reportedly targets determined job seekers making use of to federal authorities paramilitary providers akin to Immigration, the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Fireplace Service, the place strict age necessities apply.
Age manipulation to beat job limits
In keeping with stories, some candidates cut back their ages by as a lot as ten years with a view to stay eligible for recruitment into federal authorities or Civil Service roles.
Johnson, a 45-year-old e-hailing driver in Abuja, admitted to paying closely to change his data.
“I utilized for a Fireplace Service job earlier this yr, however I didn’t meet the age requirement. So, I went to a NIMC agent in Wuse to vary my date of beginning. I paid N45,000,” he advised BusinessTimes. “If I get a federal authorities job, this one will simply be a facet hustle,” he added.
Allen, who at the moment works as a contract workers at a authorities company however in search of higher alternatives, utilized for the Federal Fireplace Service not too long ago advised BusinessTimes how she tried to regulate her age data:
“The official cost for correction of date of beginning is meant to comply with strict procedures. When you pay the correct amount to them [NIMC agent], the system shall be adjusted. I do know many individuals who did it and are at the moment working.
“In the event you attempt to lower your age by about 5 or ten years, the system won’t permit it. However, these brokers at all times have their methods,” she mentioned.
Equally, Tunde, a latest NYSC graduate, confirmed paying unofficial expenses. In keeping with him, NIMC workers advised him that decreasing his age by as much as ten years wouldn’t be permitted formally however may very well be “managed” for a payment.
How cybercafé operators exploit candidates
BusinessTimes visited some NIMC-approved cybercafé operator in Wuse, Abuja. Fortunate, the operator, defined that many candidates go for shortcuts due to sluggish processes on the official self-service portal.
“Many individuals don’t have the endurance to see via the method. They need it accomplished quick, quick,” Fortunate mentioned.
He added that expenses differ relying on what number of years an applicant needs to shave off.
“If you wish to cut back your age by 4–5 years, you get charged a distinct value than if you wish to cut back by 10 years or extra, as a result of the system will flag it faster,” he revealed.
One other cybercafé operator at Wuse Zone 6, Cynthia Eno, confirmed this growth. In keeping with her, “If you wish to get something from NIN to NYSC, simply come right here. You simply have to pay me for my leg stroll.”
When pressed additional on how she will get these accomplished, she mentioned, “In Nigeria, as soon as you recognize folks in large workplaces, you’ll at all times have your method. There may be nothing like ‘no community’ right here.”
Talking additional, she mentioned, “If you are able to do NIN by your self in your cellphone, why do you assume we’re nonetheless in enterprise? I do know many individuals of their [NIMC office] who can get me something.”
Whereas on the café, this reporter noticed the operator attending to 2 instances of NIN-related modifications on the spot.
“In order for you it ‘categorical,’ you may get it now,” she advised a customer who wanted to appropriate her daughter’s date of beginning for college admission.
“That’s an excessive amount of,” the customer replied, however this reporter didn’t hear the precise quantity charged for the proposed service.
The lady defined that the error occurred throughout her daughter’s preliminary NIN registration and was solely found when the main points had been required for the 2025 UTME registration.
Official payment assessment vs. unlawful expenses
In Might 2025, NIMC elevated the official correction payment for the NIN date of beginning from N16,340 to N28,574, citing rising operational prices and business requirements.
The fee additionally launched a premium enrollment service at unique lounges and visa processing facilities, the place candidates pay N20,000 for expedited enrollment and N3,500 for NIN slip re-issuance.
Nonetheless, these modifications seem to have inspired corrupt practices, with some NIMC-linked operators exploiting candidates’ desperation and confusion about respectable versus unlawful expenses.
NIMC denies allegations
When contacted by BusinessTimes, Head of Company Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke denied any involvement of the fee’s workers within the extortion scheme.
“We don’t do bodily modifications once more. Modifications are accomplished on-line by the candidates themselves. The permitted charges are on our web site,” he defined.
“Whoever is saying ‘I need to cut back my age and they’re accumulating N45,000 from me’ is a pure lie as a result of no person in our workplace will do modification for you. In the event you go someplace and ask any individual that can assist you, each the giver and receiver of the bribe are responsible underneath the legislation.”
Earlier, NIMC Director-Normal/CEO, Mrs. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said that the fee had efficiently lowered corruption within the enrolment course of by a minimum of 40%. She added that steady monitoring and reforms are being carried out to curb extortion.
What you need to know
In August, NIMC launched necessary entry pointers for Nigerians utilizing its self-service portal to switch their NIN data.
- The Fee highlighted that entry to the NIN modification portal is strictly tied to the browser and machine initially used throughout account registration.
- In keeping with NIMC, this restriction is a part of ongoing efforts to reinforce knowledge safety and forestall unauthorized entry.
- NIMC said that when an applicant creates a self-service account on the portal, entry is restricted to the precise machine and browser used for that registration.
- In July, NIMC clarified that the brand new value for correcting the date of beginning (DOB) on the NIN database, set at N28,574, is waived if the error to be corrected was brought on by the Fee.
BusinessTimes beforehand reported that on Might 10, 2025, NIMC launched a brand new value checklist for all providers associated to knowledge modification on the NIN database.
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