Federal Government Sets Sights on 95% NIN Coverage by December

​The Federal Government has intensified its digital transformation drive, setting an ambitious target to achieve a 95 per cent National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment coverage across the country before the close of December.

​President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this known in Abuja during the 8th National Identity Day celebration. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President emphasized that a robust digital identity framework remains the cornerstone of economic growth, financial inclusion, and improved public service delivery.

​According to the administration, the ongoing integration of identity architecture is strategically designed to anchor digital commerce, modern financial services, social protection programs, healthcare delivery, education administration, and citizen mobility. To secure these interactions, the government is fast-tracking a Sovereign Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) layer within its broader Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework, enabling authenticated electronic documents, encrypted transactions, and secure paperless government communications.

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​Milestones and Institutional Collaboration

​Providing an update on the national database, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, revealed that enrolment figures have surged significantly to nearly 140 million records, up from roughly 80 million at the inception of the current administration. She noted that the national identity infrastructure has been scaled up structurally to seamlessly accommodate a capacity of up to 250 million entries.

​Coker-Odusote attributed the rapid progress to a series of strategic decentralization efforts, notably the launch of the Ward-Level Enrolment Drive in February 2026, which extended free registration reach to all 8,809 electoral wards nationwide. Over 5,000 specialized enrolment agents have equally been deployed to guarantee unhindered registration access for persons with disabilities and vulnerable demographics.

​Furthermore, the implementation of the recently enacted NIMC Act 2026 has provided a stronger legal blueprint, reinforcing data privacy standards, escalating penalties for identity-related infractions, and anchoring the “One Person, One Identity” directive. The system’s expansive utility now cuts across sectors, functioning concurrently as the foundational Tax ID for individuals while driving inter-agency synergy with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Population Commission.

​Sectoral Impacts: Education and Security

​Cabinet members present at the commemoration highlighted the cross-sectoral benefits of comprehensive identity integration.

​The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, underscored that reliable population demographics are non-negotiable for national security, economic planning, and social inclusion. He charged the commission to deepen diaspora enrolment initiatives while consolidating robust PKI protocols.

​Similarly, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced that the ministry is leveraging the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) to clean up student databases spanning basic to tertiary tiers. By making the NIN mandatory for public examinations and admissions—such as JAMB registration—the initiative successfully curtails malpractice and duplicate identities. Alausa noted that database harmonization has already empowered upwards of 800,000 students to seamlessly access credit facilities through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).