The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has registered over 120 million Nigerians for the National Identification Number (NIN) and reduced corruption in the enrolment process by at least 40%.
Speaking in Abuja during a media briefing, NIMC Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, stated: “We have reduced incidents of extortion and corruption by at least 40%. While the process is ongoing, we’ve made significant progress.”
This, according to her, is a result of deliberate reforms aimed at cleaning up the system and making the identity enrolment process more efficient, transparent and accessible.
The Commission’s speed is heavily supported by a $430 million Nigeria Identification for Development (ID4D) project, funded by the World Bank, which runs until December 2026.
One key driver of the surge in enrolment, she explained, is the inclusion of the private sector through the Frontier Partners scheme. These private agents are deployed to local communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, to fast-track registration.
“They [Frontier Partners] work with us by going into communities to enrol Nigerians. This integration of the private sector has helped us scale significantly,” Coker-Odusote said. The goal is to register every Nigerian by the end of 2025.
NIMC is enhancing efforts in all states, providing offices with updated tools and assigning trained staff to handle both enrolment and modification services. “There are well-trained NIMC staff available to assist with enrollment and modifications, using the latest application tools,” she added.
Beyond personnel and decentralisation, technology has been placed at the heart of the Commission’s expansion strategy. Several digital platforms have been introduced to minimise bottlenecks and eliminate long queues at registration centres.
These include an online pre-enrolment portal, biometric capture solutions, a modification platform for those who have relocated, and the Self-Assist Platform which uses biometric login for secure updates.
Another innovation is the NIMC NIN Authentication App, which links directly with the Commission’s backend system, allowing users to manage their data while reinforcing digital security. “The app gives users more control over their data and introduces a robust layer of security to the identity system,” she said.
But there’s more at stake than digital convenience. NIN is now mandatory for students seeking government-backed loans. This policy move links identity verification to financial inclusion, and Coker-Odusote spoke about its importance: “NIN provides a single, verifiable source of truth for applicants. This reduces the risk of duplication and identity fraud.”
To keep up with global cybersecurity standards, NIMC has partnered with experts to secure its infrastructure and data environment. Regular training and re-training of staff has also been institutionalised to ensure consistent, nationwide service delivery.
On pricing, she revealed that service fees have been reviewed, some reduced, others removed, and a few adjusted upward to match the actual cost of delivery. This revision aims to balance affordability with operational sustainability.
In summary, NIMC is overhauling its systems and processes with a mix of policy, public-private partnerships, technology and strategic funding. The numbers show progress, and the Commission’s target is full national coverage, and it’s working hard to hit it.
