Federal Government Relocates NIMC to Interior Ministry to Ease NIN, Passport Challenges

In a bid to resolve the ongoing difficulties with procuring National Identification Numbers (NIN) and international passports, the Federal Government has relocated the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Ministry of Interior.

The NIMC was previously under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Integrating NIN with SIM cards was a key initiative during this period.

Reports indicate relocating NIMC is being fast-tracked in line with President Tinubu’s mandate to remove barriers to obtaining NINs and passports, which are prerequisites for travel documents.

NIMC Head of Communications Kayode Adegoke confirmed the development, saying innovations are underway like online NIN data updates that will enable real-time responses.

The relocation follows the Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo demanding a huge passport application backlog be cleared within a week. The Minister aims to reduce shortages and delays that encourage corruption.

In response, NIMC’s spokesperson highlighted efforts to meet deadlines, with personnel working weekends to process passports quickly.

Shifting the NIMC is a strategic move by the government to streamline identity management and passport services, eliminating bottlenecks for citizens. Officials hope the change will bring improvements citizens have long awaited.