The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued National Identification Numbers (NINs) to 115 million Nigerians and legal residents, according to its Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote. The announcement was made during a Media Roundtable in Lagos, marking her one year in office.
As of December 2023, the NIMC database recorded 104.16 million NINs issued, indicating over 10 million additional registrations so far in 2024. “At the moment, our total registration figure stands at 115 million in terms of NIN issued to Nigerians and legal residents,” said Coker-Odusote.
The director emphasized the growing significance of the NIN for accessing essential services, including linking SIM cards, obtaining international passports, driver’s licenses, and registering for examinations. She described the NIN as a foundation for socio-economic growth, promoting financial inclusion, and enhancing access to critical services in health, education, and agriculture.
The director talked about how the government has made data more secure by passing a new data protection law and creating a special agency to protect people’s digital information. They’ve also made the process of getting an ID card faster and more secure by using new technology like multi-factor authentication and artificial intelligence.
To make it easier for people in rural areas and places with limited services to get national ID cards, the NIMC is adding more agents across the country. The government is also updating the NIMC law to match modern standards and data protection laws. This will make the ID system stronger and more secure.
Even though there were some challenges in the past, the government has been successful in getting people to register for national ID cards. They did this by making it necessary to have a national ID number to get things like driver’s licenses and passports. The rule that links phone numbers to national ID numbers has also helped a lot. This has made digital IDs a very important part of Nigeria’s government services.
The NIMC’s work shows that the government is dedicated to improving digital ID systems, protecting people’s information, and helping Nigeria’s economy grow.
