By Ayo Kehinde
National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment has risen to 136 million, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build a unified digital identity system and expand access to government services.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) disclosed the figure in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the milestone was announced by its Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The engagement forms part of consultations with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026.
The latest figure represents an increase of more than 12 million enrolments from the 123.9 million recorded in October 2025, reflecting the government’s intensified drive to expand digital identity coverage.
During the meeting, Coker-Odusote said the new NIMC Act replaces the 2007 law governing the Commission and provides a modern legal framework for Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
She explained that the law establishes the NIN as the country’s foundational identity credential under the Federal Government’s “one person, one identity” policy, while designating NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
According to her, the legislation also introduces stronger data protection measures, enhanced cybersecurity safeguards and digital credentials to support secure identity verification.
Coker-Odusote reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to enrolling all Nigerians and legal residents as quickly as possible and pledged closer collaboration with the Ministry to integrate digital identity into national planning and development.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the new Act as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity framework and improving governance.
He urged greater collaboration across federal, state, and local governments to eliminate duplication of identity databases, stressing that the NIN should become the country’s universally accepted identity standard.
President Bola Tinubu recently signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, expanding the Commission’s powers to oversee Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure and positioning it at the centre of the country’s digital authentication and electronic trust framework.
