President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that more than 126 million Nigerians are now registered in the National Identity Database, with corresponding National Identification Numbers (NINs) issued. Speaking at an event held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for clearing a backlog of over 2.5 million records in the past two years.
The President highlighted the impact of this milestone, noting that identity coverage is transforming access to pensions, student loans, scholarships, farmer incentives, and humanitarian aid. He emphasized that identity registration has extended to displaced persons, refugees, inmates of correctional facilities, and Nigerians in the diaspora, with more than 200 international enrolment centres already operational. A disability inclusion policy has also trained over 5,000 agents to better serve persons with disabilities, reinforcing the government’s pledge to leave no one behind.
To sustain progress, NIMC has expanded the national database from a capacity of 100 million to 250 million records, deployed over 1,500 enrolment devices nationwide, and integrated 125 partner agencies to reduce duplication and strengthen service delivery. These integrations now link the database with agencies such as the Immigration Service, FIRS, National Population Commission, NHIA, UBEC, and NCC, enabling seamless access to services such as passports, tax records, school enrolment, healthcare, and SIM registration. The NIN SIM linkage in particular has helped curb fraud and boost national security.
Operational excellence has also been a priority. NIMC has improved staff welfare with salary adjustments and promotions for over 2,800 personnel, while investing in modern tools, an upgraded customer care centre, and enhanced enrolment facilities across the country. At the same time, clampdowns on illegal operators and phishing sites have led to the arrest of more than 30 fraudulent agents. The Commission continues to maintain ISO 27001:2022 certification for data security, while its new High Availability Verification Service now guarantees 99.9 percent uptime for identity verification nationwide.
