NIN Alert: NIMC Warns Nigerians to Shun Illegal Operators or Risk Fraud and Extortion
Last update: October 26, 2026
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Trying to cut corners on your NIN registration? NIMC says that shortcut could cost you your identity.
The National Identity Management Commission [NIMC] has come out again to warn Nigerians, please, only use approved channels for your NIN enrolment. No roadside agents, no WhatsApp vendors, no “pay N5k let me do it for you” deals.
In a post on X on Monday, 26 October 2026, the commission said many of the headaches Nigerians face, failed verification, blocked SIMs, mismatched details, actually come from not following official procedure. Their words: cutting corners.
Why should you care?
We’ve all seen it. You pay a guy at a business centre in Ikeja or Wuse N3,000 to “help” you do NIN. He collects your fingerprints on an unapproved device, your data ends up on a random laptop, and months later your bank says your NIN cannot be verified. Worse, that data can be sold.
This isn’t hypothetical. Fraudsters have been running fake NIN correction portals, and in April 2025 NIMC had to work with DSS and Police to arrest illegal collectors in Anambra.
By the numbers:
Nigeria’s NIN database has exploded, from 114 million at end of 2024 to 121 million by June 2025 and 123.9 million by October 2025. With over 136 million now captured in 2026, the rush has created a booming black market for extortion.
NIMC was set up in 2007, but NIN only became compulsory for SIM registration, BVN linking and passport applications in 2020-2021. That policy shift forced millions into enrolment centres overnight, and opened the door for illegal operators who charge for what is officially free.
1. Official channels only: Use nimc.gov.ng or the official NIMC self-service portal.
2. Say NO to extortion: Enrolment is officially free. Don’t pay touts.
3. Verify before you trust: Only use NIMC’s verified social handles. Don’t click random links like NINcard.com — NIMC flagged it as fake.
What’s next?
NIMC says security agencies have been told to clamp down. Under the new NIMC Act 2026, illegal collection or sale of someone’s NIN now attracts up to 5 years in jail.
Bottom line: If anyone offers you a fast-track NIN outside an authorised centre, walk away. Your NIN is your identity for life, don’t hand it to a stranger.
Source: NIMC official X post via cbinews.tv
Hashtags: #NIN #NIMC #NigeriaNews #FraudAlert #IdentityTheft #CBINewsTV
Written by Babatimilehin kayode
Posted by Babatimilehin kayode · Last updated: October 26, 2026
