The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that over 120 million Nigerians have so far been enrolled in the National Identity Number (NIN) database.
The Director-General of NIMC, Mrs. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, made this known at a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday. She said the enrolment exercise, which began years ago, is still ongoing across both rural and urban areas.
“We are committed to enrolling more Nigerians before the end of this year,” she said, adding that the enrolment drive is being boosted by partnerships with the World Bank and private companies under the Nigeria Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
Through a model called “Frontier Partners,” NIMC works with the private sector to extend registration services to more Nigerians, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Mrs. Coker-Odusote noted that the commission has created job opportunities and improved facilities at its state and local government offices. “We’ve trained our staff and upgraded our equipment to make the process easier and faster,” she said.
She also highlighted the introduction of a Self-Assist Platform, which allows Nigerians to update or modify their NIN details online. This platform uses biometric login and complies with data protection and cybersecurity standards.
The NIMC boss stressed that NIN has now become essential for accessing government services, especially student loans, which are part of the government’s plan to boost education and economic growth.
“Students applying for federal loans must have a NIN. It ensures accurate, verifiable data and reduces fraud,” she explained.
Coker-Odusote added that NIMC has taken steps to curb extortion and corruption in the enrolment process, reducing such cases by about 40%.
“We’re not perfect yet, but we’re working hard to get better every day,” she concluded, promising more training and continued reforms across the commission.
