Nigeria’s push for a comprehensive digital identity system has reached a major milestone. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has enrolled over 137 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database with their National Identification Number (NIN). This figure was disclosed by NIMC Director-General/CEO Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
As of the evening of the broadcast on July 12, 2026, the exact enrollment stood at 137,371,080. With Nigeria’s population estimated between 200 million and 250 million, millions still remain unregistered. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the commission to achieve full enrollment by the end of 2026.
Background and Recent Progress
NIMC, established to manage a centralized national identity system, has significantly accelerated enrollments in recent years. Earlier figures showed around 126 million enrollments by September 2025, indicating rapid progress under the current administration.
The commission has cleared backlogs, expanded infrastructure, and partnered with private front-end operators through the World Bank-supported Identification for Development (ID4D) project. These partners now conduct enrollments at ward and community levels, moving beyond traditional local government centers to improve accessibility, especially in rural and underserved areas.
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Coker-Odusote emphasized that the drive aligns with broader governance needs: “Your identity is basically the foundation for effective governance and service delivery. How can you plan if you don’t know the total number of persons that you have?” She asked.
The New NIMC Act 2026: A Game-Changer
A pivotal development is President Tinubu’s signing of the NIMC Act 2026 (which repeals and re-enacts the 2007 Act). This law strengthens the legal framework for a secure, inclusive, and interoperable digital identity ecosystem. Key elements include:
Establishing NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for digital identity.
Reinforcing the “one person, one identity” policy with mandatory NIN for key services.
Stronger data protection, privacy safeguards, and penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations, or unauthorized access.
Provisions for easier access for Nigerians in the Diaspora and vulnerable/underserved groups.
Mandatory biometric capture and API-based verification to prevent duplicates.
The DG highlighted deduplication processes: Biometrics (fingerprints and facial recognition) make multiple identities for one person “almost impossible.” Legacy issues are handled through flagging and invalidation in a central system. Telcos already perform real-time face matching against the NIMC database for SIM registrations.
The Act positions NIN as Nigeria’s foundational identifier—akin to the U.S. Social Security Number—essential for passports, banking, voter registration, land transactions, taxes, pensions, insurance, and government services.
Why the Urgent Push for Full Enrollment?
President Tinubu’s directive reflects strategic priorities for Nigeria’s development:
Evidence-Based Governance and Planning: Accurate population data is critical for budgeting, resource allocation, social interventions, and economic planning. Without near-universal enrollment, policies risk being based on estimates rather than facts.
Digital Economy and $1 Trillion Ambition: A trusted digital identity underpins financial inclusion, digital transactions, cybersecurity, and ease of doing business. It reduces leakages in subsidies and social programs while enabling innovation in fintech and e-governance. The new Act is explicitly linked to building a modern economy.
Security and Anti-Fraud Measures: NIN helps combat identity fraud, financial crimes, terrorism financing, and multiple registrations. Enhanced verification tightens SIM-NIN linkage and other processes.
Inclusion and Service Delivery: The goal is to ensure no Nigerian is locked out of opportunities. Grassroots enrollment targets rural areas, vulnerable groups, and the Diaspora for broader access to services.
Coker-Odusote noted the commission’s confidence in exceeding 95% enrollment by year-end through intensified community drives and partnerships.
Challenges and Implementation
Nigeria’s population estimates vary widely, so full enrollment will provide the first clear picture of the actual figure. Past exercises faced issues like network connectivity at centers, data harmonization across agencies, and public awareness. The new Act and expanded partnerships aim to address these. Enrollment remains free, with a new toll-free line (08000616462) for support.
The DG stressed collaboration with other agencies and the private sector for API integrations, ensuring NIMC remains the single source of truth for identity verification.
Future Outlook
The NIMC enrollment drive and the 2026 Act represent a cornerstone of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. By mandating comprehensive enrollment, the government seeks to build a secure digital foundation for governance, economic growth, and citizen empowerment.
As Coker-Odusote put it in interviews, NIN is now a “magic number” and “game changer” that will catalyze access to services and transform how Nigeria operates in the digital age.
With the deadline set for end of 2026, Nigerians are encouraged to enroll or update their details promptly. The success of this initiative could significantly shape the country’s trajectory toward a more efficient, inclusive, and digitally empowered nation.
