The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have outlined the official procedures for correcting personal information on the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).
The updated guide explains how Nigerians and legal residents can change approved details such as their names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth, along with the documents and fees required to complete the process.
Details You Can Update on Your NIN
According to NIMC, citizens and legal residents aged 16 years and above can request modifications to the following information:
Name
Date of Birth
Residential Address
Phone Number
Place of Birth (State, Local Government Area and Country)
State, Town/Village and Local Government Area of Origin
Father's Details (including NIN and place of origin)
Mother's Details (including NIN and place of origin)
Information That Cannot Be Changed
NIMC stated that the following records are permanent and cannot be modified:
Gender
NIN
State of Registration
Fingerprints
Signature
National ID Card Number
Approved Fees for NIN Modification
Applicants are required to pay:
₦500 for each field being modified (except date of birth)
₦15,000 for correction of date of birth
The commission noted that the fee for date-of-birth correction is non-refundable.
Payments must be made through the Remita platform into the Federal Government's Treasury Single Account (TSA).
Required Documents
Applicants must present the following:
Original NIN Slip
Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) payment receipt
Application letter stating the reason for the correction
Supporting documents relevant to the requested modification
Supporting Documents for Specific Changes
Change of Name
Sworn Affidavit
Newspaper publication
Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
Change of Address
Utility bill
Tenancy agreement
Bank statement
Letter of attestation from a community leader
Change of Phone Number
Police report
Change of Date of Birth
Letter of Attestation issued by the National Population Commission (NPC)
Step-by-Step Process for NIN Data Modification
To update your NIN details, applicants should:
Visit any accredited NIMC enrolment centre with the required documents.
Complete the data modification form.
Submit the form for verification by a NIMC official.
The approved information will be updated on the NIMC system.
Carefully review the updated details before confirmation.
Complete biometric capture.
Receive a Transaction ID Slip.
Collect the updated NIN slip within two to five working days, depending on network availability.
Where applicable, a replacement National Identity Card will be issued within three months.
How to Pay Through Remita
Applicants should:
Visit the Remita payment portal.
Select Pay Billers under the Bills & Purchases menu.
Choose National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as the biller.
Select the required service and provide the requested details.
Generate and print the invoice containing the Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR).
Complete payment using a debit card, bank branch, USSD, internet banking or supported digital wallet.
How to Correct Your BVN Details
The Central Bank of Nigeria requires that every BVN record matches the information on the applicant's NIN.
Unlike NIN modifications, BVN corrections must be carried out at the customer's bank branch.
Date of Birth Correction
Date of birth can only be corrected once.
Applicants must first update their date of birth with NIMC before approaching their bank.
Required documents include:
Sworn Affidavit
Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age
Valid Government-issued Identification
Name Correction
For marriage-related name changes, applicants are required to provide:
Sworn Affidavit
Newspaper publication
Marriage Certificate
For minor corrections, such as spelling errors, applicants will need:
Sworn Affidavit
Valid Government-issued Identification
Service Hours
BVN update services are available from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Processing time may depend on payment confirmation, network availability, backend system performance and power supply.
Beware of Fake Websites
NIMC has warned Nigerians against using unofficial websites for NIN modifications.
The commission stated that name and date-of-birth corrections can only be processed through its official self-service portal and urged applicants to avoid fraudulent websites claiming to offer similar services.
Applicants are advised to verify every platform before submitting personal information or making payments to avoid falling victim to scams.