The Federal Government has increased the fee for correcting date of birth on the National Identification Number (NIN) database by 75 percent, raising the cost to N28,574. The new pricing regime was introduced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as part of a comprehensive overhaul of its service charges.
The updated fees also affect Nigerians living abroad. In African countries, NIN enrollment now costs \$50 for adults and \$30 for children, while data modifications cost \$55 for date of birth corrections and \$10 for other fields. Outside the continent, name changes are charged at \$60, with all other modifications still priced at \$10.
According to NIMC, the price review followed internal consultations and benchmarking against fees charged by other federal agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
“Our service charges had not changed in over a decade, despite increased operational demands,” the Commission said in an executive summary. “The revised pricing will help maintain critical infrastructure, support national revenue generation, and align Nigeria’s identity management framework with global standards.”
NIMC emphasized that the new fees also support broader policy goals such as tax harmonization, digital identity expansion, and targeted social interventions.
However, the announcement has sparked public concern, particularly over the cost of correcting date of birth errors—often stemming from mistakes made during initial NIN enrollment, especially in rural or overcrowded centers.
Adaku Okafor, a fruit vendor in Ojota, Lagos, voiced her frustration after discovering an error in her daughter’s NIN record, which now threatens her eligibility for critical school examinations.
“I am now forced to cough out almost N29,000 just to correct a simple mistake,” she lamented. “This is so unfair, especially with the harsh economic reality we are all facing.”
