The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has explained why kidnappers and terrorists are not always traceable through Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN), despite the system’s growing role in national security.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Sunday, July 12, 2026, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote said kidnappers often evade detection by using the phones and SIM cards of their victims instead of devices registered in their own names.
She said the tactic makes it difficult for investigators to rely solely on NIN-linked telecommunications data to identify suspects.
Coker-Odusote also said security assessments have considered the possibility that some perpetrators may enter Nigeria 48 to 72 hours before carrying out attacks, meaning they may not be enrolled in the country’s identity database. She, however, stressed that the scenario remains a theory and not an established fact.
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She maintained that the NIN is a national identity verification system, not a surveillance tool, adding that tracking criminal suspects requires intelligence gathering and collaboration among security agencies, telecom operators and other relevant institutions.
Established under the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2007, the NIN is an 11-digit unique identity number issued to Nigerian citizens and legal residents.
It is mandatory for SIM registration, passport applications, bank account opening, driver’s licence processing and access to several government services.
Coker-Odusote reiterated that while the NIN strengthens identity verification, the responsibility for tracking and apprehending criminals rests with law enforcement and intelligence agencies.