Fresh Allegations of Extortion at NIMC Centers in Abuja

Fresh allegations have surfaced against some agents of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja, who are reportedly collecting illegal fees from applicants seeking to falsify their dates of birth on the National Identification Number (NIN) database.

According to several applicants, the practice has become widespread across some NIMC-accredited centres, particularly in satellite towns where oversight is limited. The illegal service reportedly targets desperate job seekers hoping to bypass strict age requirements for federal government jobs, military recruitment, and other official processes.

Applicants Claim NIMC Agents Charge Up to N55,000

Applicants told Nairametrics that NIMC officials and their intermediaries charged between N45,000 and N55,000 to alter dates of birth. This is far above the official correction fee of N28,574 introduced in May 2025.

• Johnson, a 45-year-old e-hailing driver, admitted to paying N45,000 to reduce his age in order to qualify for a Federal Fire Service recruitment.
• Allen, a contract staff at a government agency, revealed that she also attempted to adjust her age through unofficial channels, saying agents “always have their ways.”
• Tunde, a recent NYSC graduate, confirmed paying unofficial charges to reduce his age by nearly ten years.

The fraudulent practice is particularly common among applicants seeking entry into paramilitary services such as Immigration, the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Fire Service.

Cybercafé Operators Also Exploiting Applicants

Investigations also revealed that cybercafé operators working as intermediaries are exploiting desperate applicants. In one case, a café operator offered to process a correction for a parent seeking to fix her daughter’s NIN details for UTME registration, suggesting an “express” option at a higher unofficial fee.

Official NIN Correction Fees vs Illegal Charges

In May 2025, NIMC officially:

• Reviewed the correction fee for date of birth from N16,340 to N28,574.
• Introduced a premium enrolment service at N20,000 for expedited registration.
• Set N3,500 as the fee for NIN slip re-issuance.

However, these official changes have allegedly opened the door for corrupt practices, as applicants claim NIMC-linked agents are exploiting confusion over what charges are legitimate.

NIMC Denies Allegations

When contacted, Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, denied any involvement of the commission’s staff.

“We don’t do physical modifications again. Modifications are done online by applicants themselves. The approved fees are on our website,” he said.

He added that anyone claiming to have reduced their age through NIMC staff was “telling a lie,” stressing that both bribe givers and receivers are guilty under Nigerian law.

Earlier, NIMC Director-General/CEO, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the commission had already reduced corruption in the enrolment process by 40% and would continue to implement monitoring reforms.

Conclusion

The allegations of NIMC agents and intermediaries collecting illegal fees for NIN date of birth changes highlight the desperation of job seekers facing strict age limits in Nigeria’s public service. While NIMC denies direct involvement, the persistence of these practices shows the urgent need for stricter oversight, awareness campaigns, and transparent processes to protect citizens from extortion.