This represents a 49% increase since January 2022, when the enrolment figure stood at 72.7 million.

Recall that NIMC had recorded 120 million NIN enrolment as at June 2025.

The announcement was made today by Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general/CEO of NIMC, during a two-day workshop with Guild of corporate Online Editors (GOCOP) in Lagos.

Speaking through Engineer Lanre Yusuf, director of Software and Biometrics at NIMC, the DG credited the sharp rise to sustained reforms, improved service delivery, and extensive stakeholder collaboration across government, media, and civil society.

“Every enrolment is a step toward inclusion,” Coker-Odusote said. “Through automation, digital tools, and community outreach, we are ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of background, can access critical services with a secure, verifiable ID.”

NIMC has expanded its footprint by revalidating and training over 7,100 front-end enrolment agents and rolling out self-service platforms to simplify the enrolment process.

The Commission’s partnerships with various government agencies have further boosted enrolment figures, especially among students, farmers, and vulnerable populations.

NIMC Cuts Extortion at NIN Registration Centres by Over 40%

Similarly, Engr. Coker-Odusote, reiterated the Commission has slashed extortion and unofficial charges at NIN enrolment centres nationwide by more than 40%, as part of a broader effort to promote transparency and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s digital identity system.

she said that enforcement of a standard fee structure and increased monitoring of front-end agents have significantly improved the enrolment experience for millions of Nigerians.

“NIN enrolment is free, and we have taken deliberate steps to communicate this nationwide,” she said. “Any modification or authentication fees are standardised, publicly listed, and closely monitored.”

To complement these reforms, NIMC has deployed grievance redress officers in all 36 states and a 24/7 toll-free line to respond swiftly to complaints.

The Commission is also leveraging digital tools such as the NINAuth and contactless biometric systems to reduce waiting time and prevent bottlenecks that can encourage extortion.

These systemic changes, Coker-Odusote emphasized, are aligned with global best practices under the ID4D (Identification for Development) framework, and reflect NIMC’s commitment to inclusive, secure, and citizen-friendly identity management.

He also emphasized that the poor and vulnerable population would need it to benefit from palliatives.

The SGF made this statement while declaring open an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, Senator Akume reiterated that providing digital identity for all Nigerians is a cardinal focus of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He urged all government agencies to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in establishing a robust and inclusive national identity system.

He also commended the NIMC Director-General, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her dedication and commitment to fulfilling the Commission’s mandate.

The SGF who is also the Chairman of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee (PESC) of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project assured her of his willingness to support the commission in pursuing reforms that will reposition it through the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, lauded the NIMC leadership and the ID4D team for their achievements so far.

He also reiterated his Ministry’s collaboration with NIMC to ensure that the NIN is used to access social services and palliatives meant for vulnerable populations across the country.

For her part, the NIMC DG/CEO, represented by Ayobami Abiola, the technical assistant on Policy and Partnerships, expressed gratitude to the SGF and the Minister. She assured the PESC members of the Commission’s readiness to deliver on its mandate.

“The enthusiasm and collaborative spirit displayed at this retreat are truly encouraging,” said the NIMC Director-General, who is also the Secretary of the PESC.

“Our discussions today have not only highlighted our achievements but also paved the way for innovative solutions to the challenges ahead.

“We are confident that with sustained inter-agency collaboration and support from all critical stakeholders, we will fast-track our mission to reposition the national identity system, making it more robust and inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian and legal resident has a verifiable digital identity and that no one is left behind,” she added.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head, Corporate Communications Unit at NIMC, the retreat was attended by key members of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee and other strategic partners, who reviewed the progress of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, celebrated milestone achievements and engaged in robust discussions to address implementation challenges.

The FEPs were contracted in 2021 by the NIMC’s erstwhile administration through the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to scale up enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN).

“However, the FEPs were only paid for one year of enrollment activities”, a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head, Corporate Communications Unit at NIMC, reads.

“Consequent upon the resumption of Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote as the NIMC DG/CEO, she promised to clear the outstanding owed to the FEPs.  As part of the process of paying the outstanding money, all the FEPs were subjected to a revalidation exercise to ensure they met internationally acceptable standards, adhered to compliance, and followed best ethical practices.

“After the revaluation exercise, the NIMC, with the support of the Identity for Development (ID4D) and the World Bank, began the process for the payment of the outstanding NIN enrolment money owed to the FEPs. The outstanding money was not part of the World Bank-funded NIN Enrolment project.

“The NIN Enrolment between 2021 and 2024 by the FEPs was a stop-gap measure approved by the erstwhile Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to scale up NIN enrolment pending the commencement of the World Bank/ID4D project.

“The NIMC through the ID4D and the World Bank, subsequently, paid all the outstanding money after the thorough evaluation.

“I extend our deepest appreciation to the entire leadership of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for your unwavering commitment to enhancing the welfare and operational efficiency of enrollment partners, particularly the proactive efforts in addressing and offsetting the backlog of payments for 2022 to date. This decisive action not only fosters trust and accountability but also strengthens the collaboration between NIMC and its partners, Phillip M Adekunle, MD/CEO, Knowledge Square Ltd. ‘The payment of the outstanding enrollment

“Money by NIMC is well appreciated and commendable, MD, Real Positive Friends”. Pastor Vincent Emiowele, MD Slogani, affirms, “NIMC Management, most especially the DG/CEO, should be commended for the payment of all the outstanding money owed to the FEPs; it is timely and highly appreciated”.

Engr. Coker-Odusote expresses her gratitude to the FEPs and the Commission’s stakeholders for their support and dedication in populating the National Identity Database (NIDB).

She reiterates her commitment to ensuring that the Commission continues to provide the necessary support to build a credible, reliable, and world-class identity database.

“The World Bank and ID4D’s valuable support to NIMC is well appreciated,” she says.

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.”

That sentiment expressed by Einstein is the primary essence behind the theory of transformational leadership, which requires passion, charisma, and the ability to motivate others.

Transformational leaders are usually very authentic, emotionally intelligent, great listeners, results-focused, visionary, and self-aware.

In just 100 days at the helm of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote has ushered in a new era of transformational leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the organization.

Her eventual confirmation as substantive Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission did not come to many as a surprise.

She did not waste time to hit the ground running and showed commitment to advancing the NIMC’s mission and mandate.

Coker-Odusote has taken steps to streamline National Identity Number (NIN) registration processes, while addressing the long-standing challenges associated with identity registration in Nigeria. This, she is handling through strategic restructuring and the integration of advanced technologies with a view to significantly reduce waiting time and enhance the overall efficiency of the system.

Today, date of birth and other kinds of modifications at NIMC happen within 48 hours. The several years backlog of date of birth modifications she inherited are almost cleared, as she had given a one-month deadline for the same to relevant staff of the Commission.

Again, responses to issues and complaints, such as those whose National Identity Numbers did not hit the NIN Verification Portal are now resolved within 24 hours.

Recognizing the paramount importance of data security in the digital age, the NIMC CEO has taken steps to enhance data security by introducing robust measures to fortify the protection of citizens’ sensitive information. This includes, but not limited to the adoption of cutting-edge encryption technologies and the establishment of a dedicated cybersecurity team.

Her interest in improving service delivery at NIMC cannot be overemphasized. She has concluded plans to ensure regular training and retraining for staff of the Commission, emphasizing customer-centric approaches, to ensure a more positive experience for citizens seeking identity services.

On partnerships, Coker-Odusote, leveraging her extensive network and expertise, has forged strategic partnerships with governmental agencies, private organizations, and international bodies. These collaborations aim to enhance the NIMC’s capacity, foster innovation, and promote information sharing for the betterment of identity management.

Understanding the pivotal role of technology in modernizing identity management, Engr. Coker-Odusote has spearheaded the integration of biometric advancements and artificial intelligence into the registration and verification processes.

This not only improves accuracy, user experience and ease of enrolment, but also positions NIMC at the forefront of technological innovation in identity management. A

typical example is the NIMC Contactless Biometric Solution, which delivers a best-in-class fingerprint and facial capture image output quality, powered by Artificial Intelligence. The new solution was unveiled by the commission at the 2023 Identity Day, held in Abuja on September 16, 2023.

In addition, Engr. Coker-Odusote tackled the existing backlog of unprocessed identity requests head-on. Through a combination of strategic staff deployment and redeployment, process optimization, and digitization initiatives, she has made significant strides in clearing the backlog, demonstrating her commitment to prompt and efficient service delivery.

Recognizing the crucial role played by the NIMC staff in achieving organizational goals, the CEO has developed for implementation, a robust welfare programme aimed at boosting morale and fostering a positive work environment. This includes, but not limited to training opportunities, health benefits, and performance recognition initiatives.

Furthermore, in consultation with in-house experts, elaborate public awareness campaigns are being planned, to ensure that citizens are well-informed about the importance and benefits of identity registration.

These campaigns are expected to not only educate the public, but also serve to demystify the registration process, encouraging greater participation.

The NIMC DG has concluded plans to take the ecosystem enrolment forward by taking steps to deepen collaboration with ecosystem implementing partners, supporting to ensure the success and optimal performance of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, a Nigerian Project jointly funded by The World Bank, The European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency.

Engr. Coker-Odusote’s strategic vision, commitment to efficiency, and emphasis on technological innovation positions NIMC for a future where identity management is not only secure but also seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of citizens.

On anti-corruption, the NIMC DG has left no one in doubt on her determination to sanitize the system, entrench a culture of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. Apart from putting systems and structures in place to discourage graft, she is directly involved in ensuring that the cankerworm has no place in the commission.

Just recently, in what one may describe as a sting operation, she paid an unscheduled visit to the Federal Capital Territory office of the commission, where she is reported to have arrested some staff for allegedly extorting money from Nigerians, even as she has maintained that enrolment was free.

Her devotion to supporting the policy direction of the present administration by strengthening the issuance of the NIN for access to service is not in doubt.

Speaking on Coker-Odusote’s first 100 days in office as NIMC CEO, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Musa Odole Solomon described her as a vibrant, results-focused leader, determined to make a difference in the Commission.

“She has taken steps to build bridges of collaboration between NIMC and partners within the country’s identity ecosystem. These collaborations aim to enhance the NIMC’s capacity, foster innovation, and promote information sharing for the betterment of identity management in Nigeria.”

“The collaboration is also focused on enhancing handshake with institutions involved in the country’s identity ecosystem, with a view to deepening integration with the country’s Identity Management System.”

“In 100 days, she has taken the lead in working with the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project to speed up project implementation process, especially, processes geared towards the extension of NIN enrolment to hard-to-reach areas, women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups, thereby fostering inclusion and access to social services.”

“She has introduced some innovations that I consider very progressive, and things are moving very well. The Nigeria Digital ID4D Project is happy to work with her, as she has shown that she has all it takes to assist us succeed.”

Responding to a question on his impression about the NIMC DG’s leadership style and the future of the relationship between NIMC and his organisation, Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra stressed that the relationship between NIMC and NPC has become more robust under Coker-Odusote’s leadership as NIMC CEO.

“I want to say that the National Population Commission has a long and robust collaborative partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in our efforts to harmonize and integrate biometric databases for planning and development of our country.”

“However, this partnership has become more dynamic and robust with the assumption into office of Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote as the Director General of NIMC. She has shown an unparalleled commitment and passion in working with the Commission, not only in registration of births and deaths, but also the upcoming population census. She comes across as a thoroughbred professional and innovator who will give Africa’s greatest nation a deserved identity profile for national unity, security, and development. I am more confident in the future of the Identity Management Commission under her.”

Responding to a question on the new grounds covered at the NIMC ICT, Director, IT/Identity Database of the Commission, Chuks Onyepunuka has this to say:

“Our DG is pragmatic, proactive, result-oriented and visionist. Her achievements in ICT in NIMC in the last 100 days include, but not limited to: “launching of self-modification and enrolments services to ease and simplify the processes for enrolment services; driving the clearing of about 3 million backlog of enrolment records awaiting manual adjudication within 3 weeks; decentralization of operations with objectives of ensuring that we are closer to the enrolees and adequate coverage in the nooks and crannies of the country.”

“Others are improvement in the process of engaging and revalidating our Frontend Enrolment Partners (FEPs); improvement in our ICT policies, processes and procedures; resolution of 95% challenges/issues affecting our window enrolment software (Res-Web) and commenced the integration and harmonization with National Population Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).”

Adding her voice, NIMC’s Director, Business Development and Commercial Services, Mrs. Carolyn Folami described the DG as a thoroughbred professional, committed to resetting the Commission for the good of the nation.

“It has been only 100 days, but it seems she has been here far longer, as within this period, we have achieved a couple of goals towards resetting the NIMC agenda and resettling the NIMC staff for productivity.”

“Starting with the planning and commencement of training of all staff, to the commitment to all Front-End Partners (FEP) to revalidate the business model for fair play and payment. She is very keen on stakeholder engagement and has secured the buy- in of our harmonisation partners for effectiveness. She is professional, thorough, dedicated, and above all, kind to all.

Adding his voice, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Project Implementation Unit, Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Dr. Emmanuel Akogun argued that Coker-Odusote’s first 100 days in office were characterised by “dynamic, focused and results – oriented leadership,” adding that there is steady progress in NIN enrolment, with “103,500,000 Nigerians and other legal residents captured in the NIMC Database.”

There is therefore no gainsaying the fact that Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote’s first 100 days as CEO of the NIMC have been marked by a series of commendable achievements.

At this point, one can confidently say that with Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote as Chief Executive Officer, NIMC is in safe hands.

Her recent confirmation as substantive Director General/CEO of the Commission is clearly an act of patriotism by the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, as she commences a full tenure of office, following her recent confirmation, one expects that the standard is not lowered.

As she marks 100 days in office this week, the most challenging part of Abisoye Coker-Odusote’s journey as Chief Executive Officer of the NIMC is the need to sustain the successes recorded, remain focused, deepen stakeholder engagement and public enlightenment, check corruption, strengthen systems and structures, be fair to all, while supporting the policy direction of the present administration.

Deliberate steps must be taken to ensure the sustenance of the war against extortion at NIMC.

Again, a deliberate plan should be in place to ensure a more robust stakeholder collaboration, particularly with those involved in the country’s identity ecosystem.

Elaborate, sustained communication and public enlightenment activities are required, taking advantage of the conventional and unconventional channels of communication to inform, educate and mobilize the citizens on the need for all to register for the NIN. This requires a deliberate strategy and strategic implementation.

Finally, a deliberate inclusion strategy must be in place and vigorously implemented to ensure that no one is left behind.

As the DG continues to lead with passion and purpose, NIMC is poised for even greater accomplishments under her guidance.

Indeed, NIMC is in safe hands!

Dr. Walter Duru (Assistant Professor of Communication and Multimedia Design) is a Communication/Public Relations Strategist, Researcher and Consultant. He could be reached on walterchike@gmail.com.

At its Study Visit to the OIC located in London and Wilmslow, UK the NDPC team led by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner, gained insight into the workings of a full-fledged data protection authority.

Dr. Olatunji shared Nigeria’s experience and innovations in the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection, 2023.

According to a statement by Itunu Dosekun, Head, Media Unit, the NDPC team was received by the OIC Deputy Commissioner for Regulatory Supervision, Stephen Bonner.

During the Study Visit of 28th -29th September, 2023, the two authorities explored various areas of data protection regulation, particularly: Policies and Statutory Guidelines, Data Protection Impact Assessment, Children’s Privacy Data, Data Controllers Registration & Fees, Enforcement, Investigations & Penalties.

Techeconomy gathered that further bilateral consultations will be held towards developing a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen knowledge exchange and data privacy between the Two Data Protection Authorities.

Mr. Solomon Odole, the ID4D Project Coordinator, who participated in the meetings as part of ID4D support towards the establishment of the Commission reiterated the importance of developing strong ties with data protection authorities in other countries and foster data flows.

Rising from a 1-day Roundtable for Desk Officers of Ecosystem Implementing partners of the Nigeria Digital ID4D project, held at Peniel Apartments, Abuja, the stakeholders described the project as timely, reiterating their willingness to participate in its implementation.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Musa Odole Solomon, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital ID4D project, congratulated the desk officers on their nomination by their respective public institutions, reiterating the project’s commitment to working with them.

“Let me start by congratulating you on your nomination as desk officers for the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project. It is a show of the level of confidence the leadership of your respective organisations has in you.”

“This meeting is aimed at explaining the essence of the Nigeria Digital ID4D project, its components, objectives, strategy and expected results, while discussing the roles of the desk officers in the project implementation, among other objectives.”

“The idea of desk officers was to ensure a single point of contact with each of the ecosystem implementing partners, to ensure that our partners do not miss out on any important step in the project implementation.”

“The project is designed, following an ecosystem model, and not limited to any single organisation. It therefore involves different agencies of the government, the private sector and civil society. As desk officers, you are here today because you represent organisations already identified as important ecosystem implementing partners. Our goal is to ensure that no strategic stakeholder is left behind, in this endeavour.”

Also speaking at the event, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission, commended the Nigeria Digital ID4D project for its intervention and support.

The NIMC Chief Executive, represented by Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Director, Corporate Services of the Commission, informed the stakeholders that the national database has hit about Ninety-Three (93) million National Identity Number (NIN) enrolments.

“The unified ID system approach, as well as the ecosystem model have had tremendous positive impacts on the enrollment figure. Currently, the National Identity Database has over 90 million (93.5m) records, which is a sharp contrast from just 7 million, when I assumed office in 2015.” he said.

He noted that “the primary aim of the strategic roadmap for digital identification in Nigeria, is to simplify the approach to identification through simple data collection process and a centralized unique identification system for Nigeria and legal residents.”

In his presentation on “Duties of Desk Officers in Nigeria Digital ID4D project Implementation,” the project’s Communications Manager, Dr. Walter Duru described the desk officers as the bridge between their respective public institutions and the project, urging them to take their roles seriously.

Also, in his presentation on “Understanding the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project,” Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Project Implementation Unit, Dr. Emmanuel Akogun, highlighted the project development objective to the desk officers, even as he urged them to support the project to succeed.

The project’s Change Manager, Ibrahim Salifu, Data and Integration Architect, Sheriff Balogun, Social Safeguards Officer, Seun Adebayo, Grievance Redress Manager, Atana Okon, Legal Desk Officer, Adetunrayo Alao and Stakeholders Engagement Manager, Helen Nkemakolam-Ekeh, took turns to explain the activities of their respective work streams, while seeking the collaboration of the desk officers.

Director, Database at NIMC, Olufemi Fabunmi, while responding to questions from the desk officers said “NIMC will increase its server capacity to 250million from 100 million after a service upgrade.

Highlights of the event were: paper presentations, remarks, interactive session, questions and answers sessions and agreement on next steps.

The Nigeria Digital ID4D is a project, jointly funded by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency.

The Project Development Objective is to increase the number of persons with a National Identity Number (NIN), issued by a robust and inclusive foundational Identity system, that facilitates their access to services.