FG links 15.65 million NINs to social register as cash transfer coverage lags

The Federal Government has integrated the National Identification Numbers of 15.65 million Nigerians into the National Social Register. NASSCO disclosed the figures in a statement on its official X account, with records showing uneven coverage across states.

The push is meant to improve beneficiary identification, remove inaccurate records and ensure assistance reaches poor and vulnerable households. But inclusion in the register or NIN integration does not automatically guarantee a cash transfer.

Household records still incomplete

As of October 2026, more than 13.3 million households had their records updated across 771 local government areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The register currently contains 21,114,531 households, covering 83,162,654 individuals.

Of that number, 13,330,387 households have been updated, or 63.13 per cent. About 7.78 million households, or 36.87 per cent, are yet to be covered by the reported updates.

NASSCO also said 11,347,989 households have at least one member whose NIN has been integrated into the register. That is 53.74 per cent of registered households. The 15,653,374 individuals with integrated NINs represent just 18.82 per cent of all individuals listed.

The figures show millions of registered Nigerians still lack NIN integration, although NASSCO said this does not necessarily mean they are excluded from government assistance. The register is mainly a database for identifying potentially eligible beneficiaries of social protection programmes.

Cash transfers and World Bank warning

The government disbursed N658.9 billion in direct cash transfers to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households as of September 2026, according to the World Bank's latest Nigeria Development Update.

The World Bank urged authorities to expand coverage, improve payment amounts and ensure beneficiaries receive assistance more consistently. The call comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to expand financial support amid rising living costs and economic hardship.

Wide state gap

Ebonyi recorded the highest household update coverage at 88.08 per cent. Enugu followed at 86.62 per cent, Kano at 86.18 per cent, Kogi at 80.61 per cent, Ekiti at 80.25 per cent, Zamfara at 78.74 per cent and Bauchi at 78.16 per cent.

Delta had the lowest coverage at 25.31 per cent. Lagos recorded 35.36 per cent, Borno 38.18 per cent, Oyo 41.28 per cent and Sokoto 41.61 per cent. The 62.77 percentage point difference between Ebonyi and Delta highlights the uneven progress in updating records nationwide.

NASSCO said the integration would strengthen data quality, improve beneficiary verification and promote transparency in social protection programmes.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission to accelerate NIN enrollment, with a target of 95 per cent coverage by December 2026. NIN enrolment has climbed to about 142 million Nigerians and legal residents, up from more than 80 million when Tinubu assumed office.

For vulnerable Nigerians, the critical issue remains whether improved identification will translate into timely and consistent financial assistance. With millions of household records still awaiting updates, expanding coverage and reliable payments remain major challenges.