The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has made major headway in its mission to digitize the identity of every Nigerian, with over 120 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) issued so far. More impressively, the Commission says it has slashed corruption in the enrolment process by at least 40%—a result of far-reaching reforms and an aggressive anti-fraud strategy.
Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, shared these updates during a press briefing in Abuja, highlighting the agency’s growing momentum and tech-driven overhaul.
“We’re cleaning up the system, modernising processes, and pushing hard to ensure that identity registration is transparent, accessible, and efficient,” she said. “And the results are clear—we’re reducing extortion, decentralising access, and restoring public confidence.”
One of the key accelerators of this success is the $430 million Nigeria Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, jointly funded by the World Bank and other partners. Running through 2026, the project supports NIMC’s infrastructure upgrades and digital rollout across the country.
A central piece of the reforms is the Frontier Partners initiative, which involves private sector agents working in underserved communities to expand NIN registration coverage. These agents, according to the DG, have played a vital role in reaching rural areas and streamlining access to identity services.
Beyond boots on the ground, NIMC is betting big on technology to deliver faster, safer services. New digital tools introduced include:
-
A pre-enrolment portal for online registration
-
A biometric self-service platform
-
A modification portal for relocation updates
-
And the NIN Authentication App, which allows Nigerians to manage their identity data securely
“These innovations have reduced long queues, improved user experience, and tightened our cybersecurity measures,” Coker-Odusote explained.
She also emphasized the strategic importance of NIN, noting its recent adoption as a mandatory requirement for government-backed student loans. “NIN ensures data accuracy and removes fraud risk—particularly for public programmes,” she added.
NIMC has also begun revising its service fees to balance affordability with the cost of delivery, scrapping or reducing certain charges while adjusting others to reflect current realities.
In a bid to maintain consistent quality across the country, the agency is investing in continuous staff training and partnerships with cybersecurity experts to safeguard its infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the Commission’s goal remains unchanged: register every Nigerian by the end of 2025, using a mix of policy, innovation, and community-based outreach.
“This is about inclusion, security, and national planning,” said Coker-Odusote. “We’re not just registering names—we’re building a reliable foundation for digital Nigeria.”
