FG Targets 95% NIN Enrolment by December 2026 as Database Nears 140 Million

The Federal Government is targeting 95 per cent National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment coverage by December 2026. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed the target on Wednesday in Abuja at the 8th National Identity Day celebration, where he was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said the national identity database has grown from about 80 million NINs at the inception of the current administration to nearly 140 million. The infrastructure now has capacity for 250 million records.

Identity Infrastructure as Economic Backbone

Tinubu said the government is building the digital infrastructure needed to use Nigeria's identity system for economic growth. He said the theme of this year's celebration highlighted the link between the country's digital ecosystem and its digital economy.

"Nigeria's digital ecosystem must power Nigeria's digital economy and Nigeria's digital economy must help power Africa's economy. Our identity infrastructure will be a critical component of this ambition," he said.

The President said the government is accelerating a Sovereign Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) as a trust layer within its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) architecture. The system, he said, will support secure digital signatures, trusted electronic documents, encrypted transactions and secure government communications, while letting businesses transact digitally with more confidence.

He also commended the NIMC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her leadership of the commission.

NIN as Tax ID and Education Anchor

Coker-Odusote said NIN has served as the Tax ID for individuals since January 1, 2026. She said the NINAuth application, a consent-based, citizen-controlled authentication service, was unveiled on October 30, 2025, while the General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) was relaunched for identity verification, financial transactions and direct government-to-people services.

She said more than 173 private companies, 30 state governments and 14 public institutions are licensed as enrolment partners. The commission launched its Ward-Level Enrolment Drive in February 2026, taking free NIN registration to all 8,809 wards, with more than 5,000 enrolment agents trained to improve access for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa said the ministry is deploying NIN through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), using the number to clean up a database of more than 75 million students from basic to tertiary levels. NIN is now mandatory for JAMB registration and other examinations. Integration with NIMC has enabled more than 800,000 students to access financing through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Security, Diaspora and Legal Cover

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said identity management sits at the centre of economic growth, national security and social inclusion. He said Tinubu's assent to the NIMC Act 2026 gave digital identity management a stronger legal foundation, and urged the commission to expand enrolment for Nigerians in the diaspora.

"Your identity is your digital footprint," Tunji-Ojo said, urging Nigerians to enrol and protect their credentials.

Coker-Odusote said integration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Revenue Service and National Population Commission is strengthening national security and service delivery. The NIMC Act 2026, she added, strengthened data protection, expanded mandatory NIN use and raised penalties for identity-related offences.

The event was attended by the ministers of Interior, Education, and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

For Nigerian businesses, the push matters on two fronts. NIN is now the anchor for tax identification and student financing, and the licensed enrolment partner list is widening the pool of companies earning fees from identity verification. Fintechs, lenders and government service providers that fail to integrate risk being locked out as more transactions require a verified NIN.