The National Identity Management Commission (National Identity Management Commission, NIMC) is facing mounting criticism from Nigerians in the diaspora following abrupt changes to overseas National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment processes, changes that have left many stranded, unable to renew passports or visas, and locked out of basic financial services.
The situation, according to affected licencees and applicants, has deteriorated badly in the last six months.
It continues with out showing any signs that it will get any better.
This resulted in the shutting down of overseas enrolment centres as this may result in more centres closing down.
1. Abrupt Policy Changes Leave Diaspora Nigerians Stranded
NIMC is accused of altering enrolment requirements without prior notice, a move that caught both applicants and licensed enrolment centres abroad unprepared.
Nigerians in the diaspora say they were given no transition period or formal communication before additional documentation requirements were introduced.
Under the revised process, applicants must now provide self-attestation documents in addition to valid passports.
This has significantly increased costs and complexity, particularly for families.
For many, the timing could not be worse: without a NIN, Nigerians cannot renew international passports, open or operate bank accounts, or complete visa renewals in their countries of residence.
The lack of notice has had real-world consequences.
Some applicants report missing immigration deadlines, while others say their legal status abroad has been jeopardised due to delays in completing NIN enrolment.
2. System Failures, Revenue Losses, and Fraud Risks
Compounding the disruption is the suspension and partial restoration of access to the NIMC enrolment portal.
When access was restored, enrolment centres found that they could no longer modify customer data.
Applicants were instead directed to use an online self-service option that, according to licencees, does not work reliably.
The breakdown has created multiple risks.
Licensed operators abroad report revenue losses as enrolments stall, while applicants increasingly resort to sending money to agents or informal intermediaries in Nigeria to “resolve” issues—an arrangement that licencees warn opens the system to fraud and undermines the integrity of the national identity framework.
The financial model has also changed.
Rather than allowing licencees to purchase enrolment tokens as before, NIMC now reportedly collects fees upfront, with no clear refund mechanism if enrolment fails.
Licencees argue that this threatens their cash flow, makes timely payment uncertain, and could ultimately force enrolment centres abroad to close.
3. Technical Failures and Mounting Reputational Damage
Operational problems with the new enrolment application have further deepened frustration.
Parents attempting to enrol children report repeated system errors, including failure to recognise faces, “multiple faces detected” alerts, and unsuccessful captures for infants and toddlers.
As a result, families are forced to make multiple trips, juggling work commitments, host-country documentation requirements, and the stress of repeated failed attempts—often with babies and young children in tow.
Licencees say there is little or no technical support from NIMC or the technology provider responsible for deploying the application.
There are also growing concerns about conflicts of interest.
Some stakeholders allege that the additional attestation requirements—linked to the National Population Commission—appear designed to drive revenue for the same technology company involved in developing the new enrolment app.
For many Nigerians abroad, the experience has been demoralising.
They describe the process as opaque, costly, and offering poor value for money.
Licencees and community leaders are now calling for an urgent review of NIMC’s overseas enrolment operations, warning that the current situation is not only embarrassing but risks damaging Nigeria’s international reputation and leaving thousands in legal and administrative limbo.