The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), under the leadership of Director-General and Chief Executive Officer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announces that over 136 million Nigerians and legal residents have been registered on the national identity database, marking a significant step towards an overhaul of the country’s identity management landscape as a result of the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026.
Coker-Odusote said the new law plays an important role in strengthening the Nigerian digital identity system as it expands the scope of the law, enhances data protection measures and boosts the system’s penetration in the public and private sectors.
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The increase in numbers, she said, is the ongoing drive to Southeast Asia’s residents to receive a unique National Identification Number (NIN), which is needed for accessing a multitude of services such as public administration, banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education and social intervention programmes.
The new law also offers a robust legal framework for digital identity management, making identity verification easier and more efficient, better delivering services and essentially enabling stronger partnerships with other relevant agencies in efforts to combat and eradicate identity impersonation and other offences.
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She further stated that the reforms are expected to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a digital economy by providing a foundational environment where electronic transactions are secure, expand financial access and facilitate ease of access to government services via a unified identification system.
Coker-Odusote however commended the progress already made, and advised Nigerians that have not yet registered to go to the approved centres for enrolment in various towns and cities nationwide.
She assured people that efforts are underway to make it better accessible, process time shorter and to increase registration in communities which suffer from underservicing.
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The NIMC boss reiterated the Commission’s pledge to create a secure and confident national identity space which can assist the nation in gaining economic and national development and productivity, and digital governance, as per international best practices.
