Civil society organisations in Katsina State have pledged to collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to strengthen the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) registration drive across the state.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by a coalition of civil society groups to the NIMC office in Katsina on Wednesday, where they expressed readiness to support the commission in advancing enrolment initiatives.
The delegation was led by the coalition’s state secretary, Kabir Shehu-Yandaki, who explained that the engagement was aimed at fostering cooperation and identifying practical areas where civil society could assist in improving the implementation of the NIN registration programme.
He said, “the visit was intended to establish a working relationship with the commission and identify areas of cooperation that would support the delivery of the National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment project.”
Shehu-Yandaki further noted that the coalition is recognised among key national stakeholders involved in the Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative.
“We therefore, consider it necessary to formally introduce the group to the state coordinator,” the secretary said.
According to him, the meeting also created an opportunity for the coalition to obtain firsthand insight from the commission on the areas where civil society organisations could provide support to help NIMC effectively carry out its responsibilities in Katsina.
He added that member organisations of the coalition are currently observing the ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise taking place across the state to ensure transparency and promote efficient service delivery.
Responding, the NIMC State Coordinator, Illo Sarkinyamma, commended the coalition for the visit, noting that it was the first civil society group to formally engage with him since he assumed office.
He described the interaction as the start of a constructive partnership between the commission and civil society actors in the state.
Sarkinyamma said the coalition could play a vital role in raising public awareness about NIMC programmes and advocating for stronger support from both state and local governments, particularly in providing funding and operational equipment to local government offices to improve service delivery and widen enrolment coverage.
He also appealed to the coalition to help promote the commission’s strict stance against extortion, reiterating that NIN registration is completely free.
The coordinator urged residents to reject and report any attempts by officials to demand payment for enrolment services.
On expanding access to registration, Sarkinyamma revealed that the commission was prepared to organise special outreach enrolment services for vulnerable groups, especially Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and encouraged the coalition to mobilise such groups to make the process easier and more inclusive.
