NIMC launches NINAuth, a consent-based NIN verification system
By Aboki Forex —
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has rolled out a new consent-based verification platform that lets Nigerians authenticate their identities without exposing their raw National Identification Number (NIN) or other personal details. The platform, known as NIN Authentication (NINAuth), is now the commission's official channel for organisations seeking to integrate with its identity infrastructure.
NIMC said NINAuth provides web, API and mobile verification services. The rollout comes as the commission fights renewed claims that the National Identity Database (NIDB) has been compromised.
How NINAuth works
The core of the system is consent. NIMC said a NIN holder must explicitly authorise the sharing of personal information before it can be accessed for Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures or any other verification purpose. That gives Nigerians more control over their data while offering organisations a safer route to confirm identities.
NIMC listed the services where NINAuth can be used: SIM registration, immigration and passport processing, tax filings and financial transactions. Instead of repeatedly handing over sensitive identity details, the system creates a controlled channel through which institutions confirm a person's identity with that person's approval.
The commission said the arrangement is designed to comply with the NIMC Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which set requirements for the fair, lawful and transparent processing of personal information.
NIMC denies fresh breach claims
The launch comes amid fresh attention on the security of Nigeria's identity infrastructure after a video circulated on social media alleging that the NIN database had been compromised. NIMC dismissed the allegation as false and unfounded, saying the video was a recycled report from 2024 that had already been addressed.
"The Commission National Identity Database (NIDB) has not been breached or compromised at any point," NIMC said.
The commission said it runs multi-layered security infrastructure to protect information belonging to registered Nigerians and legal residents, in line with international best practices. It urged the public to rely on its official communication channels for information about the National Identity Management System and to stop spreading unverified claims that could create panic.
Why the system matters
NIN is now tied to more services across Nigeria, and demand for reliable identity checks keeps rising. Banks, telecommunications companies, government agencies and other service providers depend on identity verification for transactions and access to services.
That has created a problem for NIMC: how to widen the usefulness of NIN without exposing citizens' personal information each time it is checked. The commission said NINAuth is meant to strike that balance by letting organisations verify identities while limiting the disclosure of raw identity data.
NIMC added that it will keep working with security agencies and relevant institutions to strengthen the national identity system, stressing that protecting the personal information of Nigerians and legal residents remains a priority.
The push for coverage is also accelerating. President Bola Tinubu has directed NIMC to speed up NIN enrolment nationwide, with a target of 95% coverage by December 2026. Enrolment has climbed to about 142 million Nigerians and legal residents, up from more than 80 million when Tinubu assumed office.
For businesses, a consent-based verification layer could cut the amount of sensitive customer data they hold, easing data protection exposure as NIN checks spread through banking, telecoms and government services.