The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has introduced a new access control policy for users of its National Identification Number (NIN) self-service modification portal, warning that users may face account lockouts if guidelines are not strictly followed.

The Commission, in a public advisory released Thursday and signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the head of corporate communications, said the new measures are aimed at strengthening identity protection and improving the integrity of the self-service system.

According to the advisory, access to a user’s self-service modification account is now tied to the specific browser and device used during the initial registration. Any attempt to log in from a different browser or device may result in access denial.

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“Your self-service account is uniquely tied to the browser and device used during registration. Access to your account is therefore limited to that specific browser on that particular device,” NIMC stated.

Furthermore, the Commission cautioned users against clearing their browser cache, noting that doing so may reset the browser and trigger a lockout from the account.

Once an account is locked, users are allowed a maximum of five unlock attempts. After this limit is exhausted, no further unlock requests will be processed.

“This measure is part of the Commission’s continued efforts to safeguard the identity of users on the self-service modifications portal,” the statement said.

The new policy will affect all applicants seeking to modify their NIN records, such as corrections of name, date of birth, or other personal data, via the self-service platform.

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NIMC urged the public to adhere strictly to the guidelines to avoid service disruptions or delays. The Commission also advised users experiencing access issues to contact its customer support for assistance.

The self-service portal was introduced as part of the Commission’s digital transformation efforts to ease access to identity services and reduce congestion at NIMC enrollment centres. However, the need for tighter access control became apparent due to growing concerns around data security, identity theft, and abuse of the portal.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we implement these improvements. Our goal is to ensure safer, faster, and more reliable access to NIN services,” Adegoke added.