By Emmanuel Ogbodo
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised concerns about the low enrollment rate for the National Identification Number (NIN) in Bayelsa State. NIMC’s State Director, Mr. Stephen Inokoba, shared these concerns during a meeting with the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in Yenagoa.
Inokoba reported that less than one million individuals have registered in the NIMC database in Bayelsa since the program began. As of December 2023, only 657,484 residents had been issued NINs, the lowest among all 36 states in Nigeria. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates the state’s population at 2.3 million, indicating that only about 29% of residents are registered.
Inokoba attributed the low registration to public apathy and a lack of awareness, leading to the closure of some registration centres across the state’s eight local government areas. He appealed for support from the state government to enhance the registration process.
Deputy Governor Ewhrudjakpo responded by expressing the state’s commitment to collaborating with NIMC to establish more registration centres in all council areas. He criticised the closure of centres, which left Bayelsa as the only state with fewer than one million registered individuals, and refuted claims that Bayelsa is the smallest state, emphasising its strategic importance.
Ewhrudjakpo assured NIMC of the state’s readiness to work together, stating, “We salute and appreciate your patriotism and responsibility toward the people of Bayelsa. By next week, I will meet with local government chairmen and their RDA counterparts to change the erroneous impression that Bayelsa is a small state.”
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is working on repealing and updating the NIMC Act No. 23 to strengthen the commission’s regulatory functions. The new NIMC Bill aims to enhance the Identity Management System’s efficiency and inclusivity through several amendments, according to a statement by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke. These amendments will broaden the scope of registrable persons and improve national security, service delivery, and financial inclusion.
Bayelsa ranks last among the bottom 10 states in NIN enrollment as of December 2023. The states with the lowest enrollment figures include Kwara (1.77 million), Akwa Ibom (1.76 million), Kogi (1.73 million), Enugu (1.67 million), Yobe (1.65 million), Taraba (1.49 million), Cross River (1.19 million), Ekiti (1.02 million), Ebonyi (839,506), and Bayelsa (657,484). In contrast, Lagos State leads with 11.42 million NINs issued.
