Nigeria has received $228.59 million of the $430 million allocated for the Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project, aimed at facilitating the enrollment of 148 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) by June 2024. However, the country fell short of this target, achieving 115 million NINs by November 2024, leaving a gap of 33 million.
In response, the World Bank has extended the project’s closing date from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2026. The new agreement sets a revised goal of 180 million NINs by 2026, requiring Nigeria to enroll 65 million additional citizens over the next two years.
The ID4D project, approved by the International Development Association (IDA) in February 2021 and effective by December 2021, aims to expand national ID coverage. Its $430 million funding includes contributions from the IDA ($115 million), the French Development Agency (AFD, $100 million), and the European Investment Bank (EIB, $215 million).
Progress and Challenges
- The project has provided infrastructure and support for the enrollment of 74 million NINs.
- Despite progress, nearly half of Nigeria’s 210 million population—particularly women, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged groups—remain without digital identification.
- Capacity constraints have slowed progress. However, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is expanding its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to accommodate 250 million NINs by March 2025.
Key Achievements and Future Plans
- NIMC has procured 1,000 enrollment devices for the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, with plans for an additional 3,000 devices to target poor and vulnerable individuals.
- The project underscores Nigeria’s potential to lead the continent in developing interoperable and open-standard digital identity systems.
Broader Implications
The World Bank emphasized that a robust digital ID system could unlock Nigeria’s digital economy and serve as a model for other African nations. Investments in digital identification, combined with supporting infrastructure, are expected to have transformative impacts across the continent.
