Over 120 Million Nigerians Already Registered, Says DG Coker-Odusote
Abuja, Nigeria – The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to enroll all Nigerians and legal residents into its national database before the end of 2025.
NIMC’s Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, revealed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, disclosing that over 120 million Nigerians have already been registered.
To achieve full enrollment, the commission is expanding its operations from local government areas to wards and communities, ensuring wider accessibility. Coker-Odusote emphasized that the agency has upgraded its systems to accommodate up to 250 million records, in line with global standards.
“Our digital platforms have been enhanced to support seamless enrollment,” she stated. “With our current infrastructure and community-driven approach, we are confident that every Nigerian will be captured in the NIMC database by December.”
Strengthening Identity Verification & Cutting Fraud
Over the past 18 months, NIMC has focused on staff training, system upgrades, and partnerships with over 120 government agencies. These efforts have led to:
- 2.3 million Nigerians verified and revalidated in the National Social Register.
- Integration with banks, telcos, and government programs (e.g., school feeding, student loans, and social welfare).
- A crackdown on fake NIN registration sites, reducing identity fraud.
“By linking NIN to critical services, we’ve minimized waste and corruption,” Coker-Odusote added. “However, citizens must also safeguard their personal data.”
With these measures, NIMC aims to ensure a comprehensive and fraud-resistant national identity system by year-end.
