The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that over 123 million Nigerians have now been captured in the country’s National Identity database, each with a unique National Identity Number (NIN).

This significant achievement was disclosed by the Director General/CEO of NIMC, Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during the 7th National Day of Identity conference held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja today.

In her statement, Coker-Odusote detailed the progress of the national identity project, citing key statistics that underscore the database’s expanding reach. She highlighted that the enrollment drive has successfully extended beyond Nigeria’s borders, with 52 per cent of Nigerians in the diaspora now captured. 

Similarly, the commission has made substantial inroads into the nation’s correctional system, enrolling 85 per cent of inmates into the database. 

According to the NIMC, these figures are a testament to the commission’s commitment to ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive identity system for all citizens and legal residents, a core mandate of the National Identity Management System (NIMS).

Engr Coker-Odusote further emphasised the commission’s recent infrastructural upgrades as a catalyst for this rapid growth and improved service delivery. The NIMC has enhanced its network with over 200 enrolment centres nationwide and abroad, streamlining the process for citizens. 

These improvements, she stated, have led to a remarkable 49 per cent reduction in the time required for NIN enrolment, a key benefit for millions of Nigerians. 

Furthermore, the NIMC head confirmed the harmonisation of the National Identity Numbers with approximately 125 government agencies and institutions, strengthening the national data ecosystem and facilitating better governance and service provision.

Addressing long-standing public concerns about data security, the Director General firmly dispelled claims of a compromised NIMC database. She assured the public that the commission’s systems are fortified with global standards and practices, prioritising security, trust, and the integrity of citizens’ data. 

The NIMC database, she asserted, remains the most secure in the country, a crucial pillar for building public confidence in the national digital identity project.

The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to build a robust digital public infrastructure, with the NIN serving as the foundational key. 

The ongoing enrolment drive and system upgrades reflect a concerted effort to create a single, verifiable identity for every citizen, which is essential for national planning, security, and the provision of social services.

How NIMC drove NIN enrolment

Before August 2025, NIN enrolment in Nigeria had often been a challenging journey. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has consistently worked to expand its reach, with figures showing a steady, if at times slow, increase in registered Nigerians.

By the end of 2024, the total number of NIN enrollments stood at around 114 million. This represented a notable jump from the 104.16 million recorded in December 2023. By June 2025, the figure had already surged to over 121 million, indicating a rapid acceleration in the first half of the year. 

This growth was spurred by various NIMC initiatives. A major strategic push was the mandatory linking of NINs to mobile phone SIM cards, a directive that forced millions to register to avoid service disruption. 

NIMC also launched a “Ward Enrolment” initiative, deploying Youth Corps members to register Nigerians in previously hard-to-reach areas, especially targeting children under 16. The commission also upgraded its diaspora enrollment platform to better serve Nigerians living abroad. These sustained efforts have been central to the steady climb in NIN enrollment figures.

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