Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital identity programme as implementation of the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 gathers momentum.
The latest enrolment figure represents an increase of more than 12 million people from the 123.9 million recorded in October 2025, underscoring the accelerated pace of registration ahead of the full implementation of the new legal framework.
The milestone was announced during a stakeholder engagement between NIMC and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning focused on implementing the NIMC Act 2026, which President Bola Tinubu signed into law on June 26, 2026. The legislation repeals the National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007 and introduces sweeping reforms aimed at modernising Nigeria’s identity management ecosystem.
A key provision of the new law establishes the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity credential under a “one person, one identity” framework. The legislation also designates NIMC as the country’s root certificate authority, expanding its responsibilities to include digital identity management, digital credentials, cybersecurity and the protection of personal data.
Speaking at the event, NIMC Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the commission remains committed to enrolling every Nigerian and legal resident within the shortest possible time. She noted that the agency would work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to maximise the use of the NIN in national planning, economic policy formulation and the efficient delivery of public services.
According to Coker-Odusote, a comprehensive and reliable identity database will strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve access to government services and support financial inclusion by providing citizens with a verifiable digital identity.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 as a landmark step toward building a secure, inclusive and efficient national identity management system. He called for stronger collaboration among federal, state and local government institutions to eliminate fragmented and duplicate identity databases across public agencies.
Bagudu stressed that the National Identification Number should become Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard, arguing that a unified identity infrastructure would improve governance, enhance service delivery, reduce identity fraud and strengthen economic planning.
The expanded identity framework is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting digital government initiatives, social intervention programmes, financial services, tax administration and broader economic reforms, positioning digital identity as a critical component of Nigeria’s long-term development strategy.
