The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says Nigerians would have to pay varying sums of money to correct details in their National Identity Number (NIN).

Many Nigerians are currently in mazy rush to obtain their NIN in fulfilment of the federal government’s abrupt directive on SIM-NIN integration.

The NIMC regional co-ordinator at Alausa, Funmi Opesanwo, gave that corrections such as address and date of birth would incur different amounts. This fee is slated as a “modification fee”, Ms. Opesanwo said on Channels Television this morning.

“For the date of birth correction, the processing fee is N15,000. For card renewal or card replacement, there is a processing fee of N5,000,” she said, “For a modification of your name and address, there is a fee of N5,000.”

These fees are said to be payable to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

NIMC’s explanation comes after complaints by Nigerians that the commission’s personnel have demanded fees from Nigerians to link their NIN to their SIM cards.

In December, communications minister Isa Pantami directed telecom operators to block any mobile number that is not linked to a National Identification Number (NIN) issued by National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), putting over at least 163 million active phone lines at the risk of deactivation.

The deadline was extended by up to six weeks, from December 30 to February 9, 2021, following backlash from citizens and potential health violations in light of the pandemic.

Ms. Opesanwo assured the public that the issue of overcrowding and breaking health directives are being managed by the commission.