Tinubu Sets December 2026 Target for 95% NIN Coverage as Enrolment Hits 142 Million
By Aboki Forex —
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to reach 95% National Identification Number (NIN) coverage by December 2026. Enrolment currently stands at about 142 million Nigerians and legal residents, up from more than 80 million when Tinubu took office.
The directive was announced at the 2026 National Identity Day celebration at the State House in Abuja, where the President was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
How NIMC plans to close the gap
Tinubu said hitting the target will require NIMC to expand ward-level registration, deploy more mobile enrolment services and keep working with licensed enrolment partners.
The December date is a government target for reaching 95% coverage. It is not a deadline after which unregistered Nigerians automatically face a specified penalty.
The push builds on a wider overhaul of the identity system. In June 2026, Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law to modernise identity management, improve public-service delivery and strengthen the digital economy.
NIMC's enrolment drive has moved closer to communities, while digital tools are being introduced to make identity verification and record management easier.
Identity database to power more services
Beyond enrolment numbers, the government wants the identity database to support digital public services including healthcare records, transportation systems and a harmonised national data architecture.
Tinubu said the expansion must protect citizens' privacy and rights. In his view, greater efficiency and security should come with accountability and public trust.
The administration has previously said a credible national identity system could support financial inclusion, social welfare delivery, security and more accurate data for government planning.
The government is also linking the expanded database to national security, including stronger identity verification and information sharing among agencies tackling identity fraud and financial crime.
An economic ecosystem takes shape
The expansion is developing into an economic ecosystem involving private companies, state governments and public institutions. According to the President, more than 173 private companies, 30 state governments and 14 public-sector institutions have been approved as licensed enrolment agents.
That network is creating opportunities for enrolment officers, data professionals, technology specialists and other workers.
Tinubu urged Nigerians and legal residents who have not yet obtained a NIN to enrol, describing digital identity as an increasingly important link between citizens and government services.
With enrolment at about 142 million, NIMC faces a heavy final push before December ends.
For Nigerians, the practical effect is more registration points closer to home and a NIN that carries more weight at banks, hospitals and government offices. The bigger test for businesses will be whether a faster, wider identity roll-out cuts the verification bottlenecks that slow down onboarding and lending.