NIMC registers 110 million Nigerians for National Identification Number

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that 110 million Nigerians have registered for the National Identification Number (NIN). This marks a 2.4 percent increase from the 107.34 million recorded at the end of May.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the director-general of NIMC, made the announcement during the sixth edition of the National Day of Identity, held in Abuja under the theme “Digital Public Infrastructure: Enabling Access to Services.”

Speaking at the event, Coker-Odusote attributed the growth in NIN registrations to NIMC’s strategic plan and emphasized the critical role of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in Nigeria’s economic development.

“The role of DPI has become indispensable to Nigeria’s economic development, as it offers a framework that connects citizens to essential services such as social welfare, healthcare, education, and financial inclusion,” she said.

Coker-Odusote highlighted NIMC’s pivotal role in the transformation of the country’s digital infrastructure, noting that the NIN registration of over 110 million Nigerians provides a foundation for further development of the other pillars of DPI, such as data exchange and payment systems.

She also pointed out how digital infrastructure has enabled the government and financial institutions to facilitate digital payments, digital identity, and other digital processes.

Citing the student loan initiative as an example, she noted that 257 institutions have been supported, 332,715 students registered, and payments disbursed to over 18,000 students.

Coker-Odusote further emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies, private sector partners, and international organizations to enhance Nigeria’s DPI.

She called for stronger partnerships to drive innovation within the digital identity space and ensure that the country’s digital infrastructure remains competitive globally.

The director-general also mentioned that the recent increase in enrolment may be partly driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) efforts to enforce the NIN-SIM linkage.

On August 28, the NCC announced a September 14 deadline for mobile network operators to complete the verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs. The commission revealed that over 153 million SIMs have already been successfully linked to NINs, reflecting a compliance rate of 96 percent.