Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria)
AFFIDAVIT OF NAME CHANGE
Evidence Act 2011 | Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004 | Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004
[Court Or Office]
I, [Deponent Name], aged [Deponent Age] years, [Deponent Occupation], residing at [Deponent Address], NIN: [Deponent NIN], do hereby make oath and state as follows:
DEPOSITIONS
1. That I am the deponent named above and I make this affidavit voluntarily and from my own personal knowledge.
2. That I was formerly known as [Former Name] and have now assumed and adopted the name [New Name].
3. That the reason for this change of name is: [Reason For Change]. Marriage Certificate Number (where applicable): [Marriage Cert Number].
4. That the names [Former Name] and [New Name] refer to one and the same person — myself — and I have not changed my name for any fraudulent purpose.
5. That I wish to update my name on the following documents: [Affected Documents].
6. That I hereby request all persons, authorities, and institutions to note the change of name and address all correspondence and matters relating to me under my new name [New Name].
I make this affidavit in good faith and in accordance with the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004. I am aware that making a false affidavit is perjury under the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.
Deponent's Signature: ___________________________ Date: [Deposition Date]
[New Name] (formerly [Former Name])
[Swearing Method] before me this [Deposition Date] at [Court Or Office].
Commissioner for Oaths / Notary Public: ___________________________
Name: ___________________________ Stamp: ___________________________
Deponent
________________
Signature
Commissioner for Oaths / Notary Public
________________
Signature
What Is a Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria)?
An Affidavit of Name Change in Nigeria records a sworn statement of fact that the deponent affirms to be true before an authorised official.
The legal basis for the Affidavit of Name Change derives from the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004, which authorises the administration of oaths by Commissioners for Oaths and other designated officers, and the Evidence Act 2011, which governs the admissibility and legal effect of sworn statements. An affidavit sworn in accordance with these statutes is admissible in Nigerian court proceedings and is accepted by federal and state administrative bodies as formal proof of the facts stated.
In Nigeria, name discrepancies between official documents are extremely common — arising from clerical errors at birth registration with the National Population Commission, errors at examination body (WAEC, NECO, JAMB) registration, errors in National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) NIN enrolment, transposed first and middle names in employment records, and name changes following marriage. The Affidavit of Name Change is the primary practical mechanism by which most Nigerians resolve these discrepancies without the cost and delay of a formal Deed Poll.
The Commissioner for Oaths before whom the affidavit is sworn is typically a Nigerian Legal Practitioner appointed by the Chief Judge of the relevant state or the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court under the Oaths Act. Commissioner for Oaths services are available at most Nigerian Law chambers, court complexes, and specialist affidavit centres found in proximity to high courts, magistrates' courts, and government registries across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Ibadan, and other Nigerian cities.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) regulate the conduct of Legal Practitioners acting as Commissioners for Oaths. A Commissioner for Oaths who administers an oath on a knowingly false affidavit faces professional disciplinary action.
The legal framework governing the Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria) rests on the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004 (which authorises Commissioners for Oaths to administer oaths) and the Evidence Act 2011 (Section 115 — admissibility of affidavits). The Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004 (southern states) and the Penal Code (northern states) impose criminal penalties for perjury. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2007 (Section 27) requires an affidavit for NIN name corrections. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) KYC guidelines require banks to collect an affidavit of name change under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 (MLPPA 2022). The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act Cap F19 LFN 2004 governs driver's licence corrections. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) Regulation on Administration of Retirement and Terminal Benefits requires an affidavit for RSA name changes. The West African Examinations Council Act Cap W4 LFN 2004 governs certificate corrections. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data within the affidavit. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Act Cap J1 LFN 2004 governs JAMB record corrections. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Nigeria-compliant documentation.
When Do You Need a Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria)?
A Nigeria Affidavit of Name Change is needed in any situation where a person's name in one official document differs from their name in another, or where a formal declaration of a name change is required by a Nigerian institution.
When a university graduate in Lagos discovers that the name on their WAEC certificate (West African Senior School Certificate) differs from the name on their NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) call-up letter due to a registration error, an Affidavit of Name Change declares the correct name and explains the discrepancy, enabling NYSC and future employers to reconcile the records.
When a woman in Abuja updates her bank account name following marriage and the name on her NIN certificate has not yet been updated to reflect her married name, the bank regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) requires an Affidavit of Name Change alongside the marriage certificate to satisfy KYC requirements and update the account records.
When a person discovers that their NIN enrolment with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) contains a transposed name (first and middle names switched), and this discrepancy is causing problems with BVN (Bank Verification Number) matching, SIM card registration under NCC directives, or employment screening, an Affidavit of Name Change and NIMC correction application resolves the issue.
When an employee's Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is recorded in a name that differs from their current legal name — affecting their tax returns, pension contributions to their Retirement Savings Account (RSA), and employer remittances — an Affidavit of Name Change supports the administrative correction request.
When a person who has been using a different name professionally or socially wishes to formally record the change for all purposes — notifying their employer, bank, pension administrator, NIMC, and other institutions simultaneously — the Affidavit of Name Change is the single document that anchors all the institution-specific update applications.
Nigerians should prepare an Affidavit of Name Change as soon as a discrepancy is identified, before it affects NIN registration under the NIMC Act 2007, BVN records at CBN-licensed banks under the MLPPA 2022, or pension contributions to a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) managed by a PFA under the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Pension Reform Act 2014. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act Cap N84 LFN 2004 requires name consistency between WAEC/NECO certificates and mobilisation records. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) must match the name on the NIN for tax compliance under the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) and Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004. The State High Court of the relevant state has jurisdiction over applications to correct names in probate proceedings. The Federal High Court adjudicates immigration-related name disputes. The Evidence Act 2011 (Section 115) governs the admissibility of the affidavit in all Nigerian courts. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) regulates Commissioners for Oaths under the Legal Practitioners Act Cap L11 LFN 2004.
What to Include in Your Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria)
A Nigeria Affidavit of Name Change must contain the following essential elements to be valid and accepted by Nigerian institutions.
Deponent's identity: The deponent's full current legal name, date of birth, occupation, and residential address. Both the former name and the new name should be stated clearly in the opening section of the affidavit, establishing the identity of the person across both names.
Declaration of former name: A clear statement of the full former name (including all first names, middle names, and surnames as they appear in the original documents) and the documents in which the former name is recorded — for example, "formerly known as Adaeze Chinyere Okafor as recorded on my WAEC certificate No. [xxxx] and JAMB registration No. [xxxx]".
Declaration of new name: A clear statement of the new full legal name the deponent is adopting or declaring, and the reason for or circumstances of the name change — for example, name change on marriage (supported by marriage certificate), correction of a registration error, or decision to adopt a different name.
Declaration of continuity: A statement that the deponent formerly known by the old name and currently known by the new name is one and the same person, and that all acts done and documents executed in the former name were done and executed by the same individual.
Purpose statement: A statement of the purpose for which the affidavit is being made — for example, "for the purpose of updating my NIN record with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)", "for the purpose of updating my account records with [bank name]".
Declaration of truth: A statement that the contents of the affidavit are true to the best of the deponent's knowledge and belief and that the deponent understands the consequences of making a false affidavit under the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.
Exhibits: A reference to any supporting documents attached as exhibits — such as the old name document (birth certificate, NIN card, WAEC result) and the new name document (marriage certificate, passport). Each exhibit should be marked with a letter (Exhibit A, B).
Jurat: The formal jurat with the date, location, name and designation of the Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public, and the signature and official stamp of the administering officer. Both the deponent and the Commissioner for Oaths must sign the jurat.
Compliance checklist for an Affidavit of Name Change (Nigeria): The affidavit must be sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths under the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004. The Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004 (Section 117) imposes liability for perjury on false declarations. The Evidence Act 2011 (Section 115) governs admissibility. For NIMC updates under the NIMC Act 2007 Section 27, a certified copy of the affidavit plus supporting documents must be submitted at a NIMC enrolment centre. For BVN name corrections, the CBN KYC framework under the MLPPA 2022 requires the affidavit plus original name document and change evidence. WAEC certificate corrections under the West African Examinations Council Act Cap W4 LFN 2004 additionally require newspaper publication. PenCom Pension Reform Act 2014 (Section 11) requires the affidavit for RSA name corrections. The FRSC Act Cap F19 LFN 2004 governs driver's licence corrections. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 (Regulation 2.2) requires institutions processing the affidavit to handle personal data lawfully under NDPC oversight. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Nigeria-compliant documentation.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Name change in Nigeria can be effected through two principal methods. The first and more formal method is a Deed of Change of Name (also called a Deed Poll), which is a formal legal document executed before a Nigerian Legal Practitioner, witnessed, and published in the Federal Government Official Gazette (by application to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation) and optionally in a newspaper of national circulation. Deed Poll name changes are typically used for formal, permanent changes of name — for example, adopting a spouse's surname on marriage beyond what a marriage certificate records, abandoning a birth surname entirely, or adopting an entirely different name. The second and more commonly used method for minor corrections or dual-name declarations is the Affidavit of Name Change, sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public under the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004. The Affidavit of Name Change is accepted by most Nigerian institutions — including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), commercial banks regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and employers — for the purpose of declaring that two different name variants refer to the same person, or recording a specific name change event. The affidavit is faster and less expensive than a Deed Poll and is sufficient for most administrative and employment purposes in Nigeria.
The choice between an Affidavit of Name Change and a Deed Poll in Nigeria depends on the purpose of the name change and the requirements of the receiving institution. An Affidavit of Name Change is generally sufficient where: the person needs to reconcile a discrepancy between the name on their National Identification Number (NIN) certificate and the name on their educational certificates (a very common issue in Nigeria due to clerical errors at registration); the person is declaring that their maiden name and married name refer to the same individual (supported by their marriage certificate); the person needs to notify their employer, bank, or a government agency of a minor name correction (e.g., transposed first name and middle name, or a spelling error); or the person is applying to NIMC for a name update on their NIN record, which requires an affidavit rather than a Deed Poll in most cases. A Deed Poll is more appropriate and may be required by some institutions where: the person is adopting a completely different name with no historical connection to their previous name; the name change is to be formally publicised and gazetted for permanent legal record; the person's name change needs to be recognised for immigration or international travel documents; or the receiving institution (such as a federal agency or a court) specifically requires a gazetted Deed Poll rather than an affidavit.
Numerous Nigerian federal and state institutions require an Affidavit of Name Change as part of their administrative update process. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) requires an Affidavit of Name Change, accompanied by supporting documents such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, to update the name recorded against a National Identification Number (NIN). The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) requires an affidavit to update the name on a driver's licence where it differs from other identification documents. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requires an affidavit to correct name discrepancies in university admission records. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have processes for certificate correction that require sworn affidavits declaring the correct name. Commercial banks regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) require an Affidavit of Name Change under their Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures when a customer changes their name after account opening — the affidavit must be accompanied by the original name evidence and the document evidencing the name change (e.g., marriage certificate). The Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) handling an employee's Retirement Savings Account (RSA) under the Contributory Pension Scheme administered by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) requires an affidavit for name changes on RSA records.
An Affidavit of Name Change is not, by itself, sufficient to change the name on a Nigerian international passport — the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has specific passport amendment and replacement procedures that govern name changes on passports. To change a name on a Nigerian passport due to marriage, an applicant must submit the original marriage certificate issued by the relevant state government (under the Marriage Act Cap M6 LFN 2004), together with the current passport, to the Nigeria Immigration Service office. For a more substantive name change (beyond marriage), the NIS typically requires a Deed Poll published in the Federal Government Official Gazette, rather than just an affidavit. An Affidavit of Name Change is, however, useful as a supporting document in the NIS passport amendment process — particularly to explain a discrepancy between the applicant's passport name and their NIN record or other identity documents, or to support an application where a marriage certificate was not issued in the correct legal name. Passport applicants should consult the NIS directly (or visit nis.gov.ng) for the current document requirements for their specific situation, as administrative requirements at the NIS may change. Where a Nigerian citizen abroad wishes to change their passport name, the process involves their nearest Nigerian High Commission or Embassy, which follows NIS guidelines. An Affidavit of Name Change sworn before a Nigerian consular officer abroad may be useful as a supporting document in the consular passport process.
An Affidavit of Name Change can be used in Nigerian court proceedings as evidence of the deponent's identity, the fact of a name change, and the dates and circumstances of that change. Under the Evidence Act 2011, Sections 107 to 116, affidavits are admissible in evidence in proceedings before Nigerian courts where the court's procedural rules permit or require evidence by affidavit, or where the parties agree to the use of affidavit evidence. In civil proceedings before the Federal High Court, State High Courts, and National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), supporting affidavits accompany applications and motions and are commonly used to establish personal identity facts. An Affidavit of Name Change sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths and filed as an exhibit in court proceedings provides formal evidence that the party known by one name is the same person known by another name — relevant in succession proceedings, matrimonial proceedings, contract disputes, and property matters. However, for proceedings where identity is seriously contested, the court may require corroborating evidence beyond the affidavit alone, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or Deed Poll. The Federal High Court, in commercial and immigration matters, may also require a Deed Poll rather than an affidavit where formal name change evidence is essential. In probate and estate administration proceedings before the Probate Registry of the High Court, an affidavit explaining a name variation between a will and the beneficiary's current name is routinely required.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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