President Bola Tinubu has set a new target for Nigeria’s identity programme. He has directed the National Identity Management Commission to enrol every Nigerian by 2026.
ABUJA, FCT — President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that all Nigerians are enrolled into the country’s national identity database by 2026. According to an official statement, the directive forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the national identity system and improve access to public services through a comprehensive and reliable database.
Why This Happened
According to the Federal Government, expanding the national identity database will improve planning, governance and the delivery of essential public services. A comprehensive identity system is also expected to support digital inclusion and strengthen the administration of government programmes.
The directive places renewed responsibility on NIMC to accelerate the registration of citizens and legal residents who have yet to obtain a National Identification Number (NIN).
What They Said
According to the official statement, President Tinubu instructed NIMC to work towards enrolling all Nigerians before the end of 2026.
The statement said the identity drive is designed to build a more inclusive national database that will support effective governance, policy implementation and access to government services.
Who Is NIMC?
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is the Federal Government agency responsible for registering Nigerians and legal residents and issuing the National Identification Number (NIN). The commission manages the country’s national identity database, which supports identity verification across government and private sector services.
NIMC has expanded enrolment centres nationwide in recent years as demand for the NIN continues to grow.
What This Means for Nigeria
The development means more Nigerians may be expected to register for their National Identification Number before the 2026 deadline as the government intensifies enrolment efforts. A larger national identity database could improve access to government programmes, financial services, healthcare, education and digital services that require identity verification.
RELATED: How to Register for a National Identification Number (NIN) in Nigeria
