NIMC Hits 120m Enrollees, Expands Capacity to Enrol All Nigerians Year-end

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has achieved a major milestone in its enrollment drive, with over 120 million Nigerians now registered in the National Identity Database. 

This marks a significant step toward the commission’s goal of capturing all Nigerian citizens and legal residents by the end of 2025. 

At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, NIMC’s Director-General, Mrs. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announced that the agency had exceeded its initial database capacity of 100 million and upgraded its infrastructure to accommodate up to 250 million enrollees. 

“Our initial capacity was 100 million, but we have now expanded to 250 million. As of yesterday morning, we had enrolled 120,040,000 Nigerians—a clear demonstration of our progress,” she said. 

Coker-Odusote reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to ensuring every Nigerian is registered, emphasizing the importance of the National Identification Number (NIN) for national planning, security, and access to critical services. 

“The NIN is essential for student loans, credit facilities, and government support programs, reducing fraud and streamlining identity verification,” she noted. 

She also highlighted efforts to curb extortion and corruption in the enrollment process, reporting a 40% reduction due to reforms, staff training, and collaboration with the World Bank under the Nigeria Identification for Development project. 

Private sector partnerships, particularly through the Frontier Partners initiative, have played a key role in expanding enrollment, especially in rural areas. “These partners help us reach underserved communities, creating jobs and improving efficiency,” she added. 

To enhance convenience, NIMC has introduced digital platforms like the online pre-enrollment system and the Self-Assist Modification Portal, allowing Nigerians to update their details remotely. 

“These innovations have cut processing time in half and reduced the need for physical visits to enrollment centers,” Coker-Odusote said. 

With these advancements, NIMC remains on track to achieve full enrollment by the end of 2025, reinforcing Nigeria’s digital identity framework.

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