The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has said it has successfully scaled Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment to a record-breaking of 115 million within one year.
NIMC Director General/CEO, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote who made this known at a two-day roundtable discussion with online newspaper publishers in Abuja on Thursday, also announced the clearance of two years’ backlog of payments owed to Front-End Partners (FEPs), a feat achieved in her first year as the substantive head of the commission.
Under Coker-Odusote’s leadership, NIMC has deployed over 800 mobile enrolment devices and established territorial offices across the country to reduce waiting times for registration. 
These efforts propelled NIN enrolments to 115 million, backed by an expanded National Identity Database now capable of hosting 250 million identities.
The DG said, “We have taken deliberate steps to ensure effective service delivery by modernizing infrastructure and clearing backlogs. These measures are part of a larger vision to create an inclusive and robust identity system that benefits every Nigerian.”
While highlighting the commission’s milestone achievements, Coker-Odusote who was represented by the Director, ICT/Identity Data Base; Engr. Lanre Yusuf described the year as pivotal for advancing Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. She attributed the success to strategic reforms and innovations aimed at fostering inclusivity, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and expanding access to NIMC services.
The DG also announced plans to improve verification services with a 99% uptime guarantee, further solidifying NIN’s role as a foundational tool for identity verification across government and private sectors.
On future reforms, Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote outlined plans to adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence for identity verification, expand enrolment centres, and deepen integration of NIN into various sectors. She also reaffirmed her zero-tolerance stance on corruption, ensuring that NIMC operates transparently and in alignment with global best practices.
Coker-Odusote reiterated her commitment to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16.9), which seeks to provide legal identity for all by 2030. “NIMC shall not rest until every citizen and legal resident of Nigeria is captured in the country’s identity database,” she declared.
The DG expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and to the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project for its support in driving NIMC’s vision.
She urged online publishers to join hands with NIMC in building a secure and inclusive digital identity system that empowers every Nigerian. The Chairman of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), Mr. Martins Odiete in his remarks, commended NIMC for its proactive approach in engaging online publishers.
He thanked the DG and management of the commission for fostering this collaboration and recognized the importance of leveraging online platforms in delivering public policies to their intended audiences.
According to him, “Online is the new engagement ground if public policies must reach the intended audience. NIMC, with the entire nation as its scope, has found a worthy ally in ACOE.”
Mr. Odiete assured the commission of ACOE’s unwavering commitment to the partnership, promising that the collaboration would yield significant benefits. He added, “The commission will get more than enough value for its partnership with our association. Together, we will amplify NIMC’s achievements, educate the public, and ensure the success of its mission”.
NIMC has leveraged the NIN to enhance financial inclusion, linking it with initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and grants under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Over 3 million farmers and 800,000 MSMEs have benefitted from verified NINs, ensuring transparency and equitable distribution of resources.
The commission has also integrated NIN with critical national initiatives, including SIM card registration, digital health programs, and youth development projects, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive governance and national security.
