FGN to Link NIN to Credit Score, What This Means for You?

For years, Nigeria’s credit landscape has been plagued by limited data, fragmented financial footprints, and inconsistent borrower profiling. The integration of National Identification Number (NIN) into credit scoring is not just about credit scores, it’s about building trust and unlocking economic potential.

At Tendar, we’ve always believed that credit scoring in Africa should be transparent, inclusive, and data-driven. Our technology already integrates multiple data points that are financial, behavioural, and identity-based, to provide dynamic credit scores that reflect real-life borrowing potential.

What This New Move Means for You

If you’re an individual, this means:

• Your NIN will now be tied to your financial behaviour, including loans, bills, repayments, and other obligations.
• It will be harder to “disappear” after taking credit, but easier to build a strong credit profile if you're financially responsible.
• You’ll need to ensure your NIN is updated with banks, digital lenders, and financial apps.

If you're a lender or fintech operator, this move will:

• Improve the accuracy of risk assessment
• Help identify duplicate or fraudulent identities
• Support data-sharing frameworks that lead to more responsible lending

It means your financial behaviour (how you borrow, repay, and manage money) will now be more visible and trackable, and it will impact your ability to access loans, get a mortgage, or travel abroad. Your NIN will be the key to your financial reputation.

Why Now?

With the government linking NIN to credit scoring, everyone will soon have a financial profile,so whether or not you’ve borrowed money before. This move is meant to:

• Make lending safer and more inclusive.
• Help responsible borrowers build better financial futures
• Prevent fraud and identity duplication in credit systems

But for everyday Nigerians, the key takeaway is this:
Your credit score matters now more than ever. This NIN-credit score link is more than a regulation, it’s a necessary evolution for Nigeria’s credit economy. It brings us closer to a world where every Nigerian has a financial identity that can be trusted and rewarded.

What You Should Do Today:

1. Download the Scorewise app (available on iOS and Android)
2. Check your credit score for free
3. Update your NIN with financial apps and services
4. Start building or improving your credit standing

With Scorewise powered by Tendar.co, you have the power to know, grow, and control your financial identity.