You’ll Need National Id Number To Renew Or Get A Passport From 2018 – FG

The federal government of Nigeria has said that starting from 2018, no Nigerian will obtain or renew their international passports without having the national identification number (NIN).

Mohammed Babandede, comptroller general of the Nigeria immigraition service (NIS), said this on Tuesday while addressing state house correspondents after a meeting of the database harmonisation committee.

He said the development is part of efforts to have a centralised database for Nigerians and to also improve the business environment in the country.

Babandede also said NIS targets to capture 180 million persons in three years, up from the 20 million Nigerians that have so far been captured in the NIN database.

He added that the service would collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to achieve the set targets.

He also said that foreigners would not be able to renew their permits except they obtain an identification number.

“We have agreed that from January 1, 2018, anybody who is going to apply for Nigerian passport, whether renewal or fresh, must first have a national identity number,” he said.