The World Bank has raised Nigeria’s target for National Identification Numbers (NIN) issuance under the Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project from 148 million to 180 million, reflecting confidence in the country’s progress despite earlier setbacks.
The ID4D project, launched in February 2020 with a $430 million budget, aims to establish an inclusive digital identity system to facilitate access to services, financial inclusion, and participation in the digital economy.
Nigeria has gotten $228.59 million from the $430 million earmarked for the Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project, which was meant to facilitate the enrolment of 148 million National Identification Numbers by June 2024.
Nigeria failed to meet the enrollment target of 148 million by June 2024, and the World Bank agreed to extend the $430 million facility for the project until 2026.
In a new document detailing the terms of the restructuring, the World Bank noted that the project disbursement rate stood at 53.16 per cent as of November 2024.
The project’s total financing amounts to $430 million equivalent, $115 million of which are from the World Bank’s IDA, $100 million equivalent from the French Development Agency (AFD), and $215 million equivalent from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The bank disclosed that, so far, 53.16 per cent of the fund has been disbursed but added that Nigeria has made significant progress toward fulfilling the final disbursement condition, which is the amendment of the NIMC Act to promote an inclusive and non-discriminatory legal and regulatory framework.
According to the latest restructuring document, the new target is part of a two-phase extension plan to support Nigeria in completing critical project milestones and expanding its reach to underserved populations. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued 115 million NINs as of October 2024, a significant achievement but still shy of the original June 2024 target.
The World Bank emphasised the importance of closing the existing gap, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged communities.
To accelerate progress, Nigeria secured a six-month extension earlier this year to design and launch a new national identity management system built on open-source, scalable, and interoperable architecture. Having met this condition, a second-stage extension for an additional 24 months is now proposed, pushing the project’s closing date to December 2026.
The restructuring also prioritises legal reforms, including amendments to the NIMC Act and the introduction of critical bills to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy. The NIMC Act amendment, which has already passed two readings in the National Assembly, aims to create a non-discriminatory regulatory framework, with final approval expected by February 2025.
