President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to expand National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment to cover 95 per cent of Nigeria’s population by December 2026.
Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2026 National Identity Day celebration. The President was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the Presidency, NIN enrolment has grown to about 142 million, compared with more than 80 million records in the National Identity Database when the administration assumed office.
The government plans to close the remaining gap through expanded registration at ward level, mobile enrolment services and the use of licensed registration agents.
Tinubu said the objective goes beyond increasing the number of people registered. He described a reliable national identity system as an important foundation for delivering public and digital services more efficiently.
The President said the government is working toward an interconnected digital public infrastructure that could support services including electronic health records, transportation systems and improved coordination of government data.
He also stressed that the expansion of digital identity services must protect citizens’ privacy and other rights. According to Tinubu, stronger digital systems should be accompanied by accountability, inclusion, security and public trust.
The administration also views the national identity database as an important tool in addressing identity fraud and financial crimes. Tinubu said secure identification is important to building a more secure country.
The December target comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure and expand access to services that require reliable identification.