The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents have been enrolled in the National Identity Database (NIDB), marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital identity programme.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, who said the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announced the development during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The latest figure represents a significant increase from the over 117.36 million Nigerians enrolled as of February 28, 2025, according to data released by the commission in April 2025.
The visit formed part of NIMC’s ongoing stakeholder engagements with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) following the implementation of the NIMC Act 2026.
Speaking during the meeting, Coker-Odusote said the new legislation repeals and replaces the 2007 NIMC Act, modernising Nigeria’s digital identity framework by establishing the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country’s foundational identity under the “one person, one identity” policy.
She explained that the Act also designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure while introducing stronger data protection, cybersecurity measures and digital identity credentials.
“The Federal Government remains committed to enrolling and issuing NINs to all Nigerians and legal residents within the shortest possible time,” Coker-Odusote said.
She added that the commission is prepared to work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to leverage the NIN in advancing economic planning and national development.
Also speaking during the visit, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the NIMC Act 2026.
Bagudu described the legislation as “a transformative milestone” that will strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and support national planning and development.
He commended the NIMC Director-General and the commission’s leadership for securing the passage of the Act, noting that it provides “a solid legal foundation for a trusted, secure, and inclusive national identity management system.”
The minister, however, stressed that the law’s impact would depend on its effective implementation.
“The true measure of the Act’s success will lie in its effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to citizens,” he said.
Bagudu also called for stronger collaboration among the federal, state and local governments to eliminate duplication across public identity databases and improve public confidence in the national identity system.
According to him, the National Identification Number should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard to enhance efficient service delivery and strengthen governance.
President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law on June 26, repealing the commission’s 2007 establishing Act.
Following the signing, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for digital identity management, cybersecurity and secure digital authentication while reinforcing the NIN as the country’s foundational identity credential under the “one person, one identity” principle.
