Victor Ezeja
The growing level of insecurity, fraud and other associated criminal activities coupled with the need to have a comprehensive database of all in Nigeria led to creation of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for Identity management.
The National Identification Number (NIN) issued by NIMC, is a set of numbers (11 digit) assigned to an individual upon successful enrolment.
According to the Commission, NIN is used to tie all records about an individual in the database and is also used to establish or verify his/her identity.
Who Should have NIN?
NIMC says all citizens and legal residents in Nigeria, from age zero (birth) and above are eligible to enrol for their national identity numbers. However minors are not issued with the National Identity cards until they attain the age of 16.
NIN Number
Just like the Bank Verification Number (BVN), there is also a dedicated code (*346#) that an individual who has been enrolled in the NIMC database can use to retrieve the NIN through the mobile phone number used in registering for NIN.
Though this service comes with a fee of NGN20 for the NIN to display on one’s phone screen when the code is dialed, many who knows the process have often restorted to the option when in dire need of the NIN for one thing or the other.
Do you know you can retrieve your NIN without using registered phone number?
What many do not know is that one can also retrieve their NIN without using their phone numbers.
Knowing how to retrieve your NIN without using the mobile phone number registered with the NIN is imperative as you could have a need for it when you do not have access to the phone number. One could lose a SIM card, or mobile phone the SIM is placed and at the same time do not have access to the NIN slip issued by NIMC after enrolment.
In this article we will guide you on how to access your NIN without using the registered mobile phone number.
To retrieve your NIN without using your mobile phone number, here’s what you must do:
One of the actions to take when you find yourself in such situation is to visit the NIMC enrollment centre where you registered for NIN.
If it is not possible to visit the particular centre where you registered, any nearest centre can serve.
At the centre, you are to present the mobile phone number you misplaced or lost and also do fingerprint capturing to enable the NIMC staff retrieve and reprint the NIN slip containing the details.
This comes at a service cost of ₦500 paid via Remita or at the NIMC enrollment centre.
Any other alternative to retrieving NIN without phone number?
Yes, there is another alternative to that. If you had already done the NIMC application on your Android or iOS device and still have the device but simply lost the SIM or it has damaged, then you can have access to your NIN number through the app without having to visit any NIMC Enrolment Centre closest to you. All it requires is having a stable internet connection.
Ensuring security of the NIN after retrieval without phone number
Considering cases of fraud in the country and the centrality of NIN in one’s identity management, it is necessary to take proactive steps in ensuring that a third party do not have access to the NIN through the lost SIM.
Note that NIN is your identity and all the information about you is tied to it. This requires that just like other important identity documents like BVN, etc., your NIN slip or NIN number should be protected or guarded.
When your SIM is in the hands of fraudulent individuals, your NIN could be retrieved when they dial *346# and it can be used to commit crimes or do things without your consent.
Therefore, applying to change the missing phone number in your NIN data at the NIMC enrollment centre becomes a viable option. To do this also attracts a service fee of ₦500 via Remita.
After Remita payment, you are to present the following documents to complete the change of number process at NIMC enrollment centre:
• A recent police report
• The original copy of the NIN slip that was issued to you after your initial registration. Here, you can submit the reprinted NIN you just collected without your phone number.
• An application letter that has been duly signed by you for the change of phone number, stating the reason for the modification of data as well.
Once these documents are presented, your NIN will be updated and protected. Once the old missing pho e number is removed the new one will be added and linked to your NIN.
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Alternatively, to avoid unauthorised access to your NIN, you can initially block the SIM card stolen or lost and then subsequently visit the telecom network service centre and do welcome back if you are still interested in using the phone number. With that measure no one will have access to the NIN.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
