President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enroll every Nigerian in the national identity database before the end of 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen governance, national planning, and public service delivery.
NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote disclosed the directive during an interview on Sunday Politics, saying the commission is expanding enrollment through private partners under the World Bank-backed Identification for Development (ID4D) programme to reach communities across the country.
She explained that the National Identification Number (NIN) remains the country’s unique identity credential, ensuring every citizen is registered only once through biometric verification.
According to her, the upgraded system instantly detects duplicate registrations using fingerprints and facial recognition, making multiple identities virtually impossible.
Coker-Odusote noted that Nigeria’s true population remains uncertain, with estimates ranging between 200 million and 250 million.
She said completing nationwide enrollment will provide accurate population data needed for effective planning, policy implementation, and resource allocation.
The directive followed the signing of the new NIMC Act 2026, which reinforces the “One Person, One Identity” policy.
The law makes the NIN the primary identity requirement for key services, including banking, passport applications, taxation, pensions, land transactions, and consumer credit, while introducing tougher penalties for identity fraud and stronger data protection measures.
