By Muhammad Mamman
President Bola Tinubu has announced that more than 126 million Nigerians are now enrolled in the National Identity Database and issued National Identity Numbers (NIN).
Speaking at an event in Abuja, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, Tinubu praised the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for clearing a backlog of over 2.5 million records in two years and cracking down on illegal registration centres, leading to more than 30 arrests.
He highlighted the impact of the initiative, noting that workers can now access pensions securely, students can obtain loans and scholarships, farmers benefit from targeted incentives, and vulnerable groups have proof of identity for humanitarian support.
The President also stressed the expansion of services to Nigerians abroad through over 200 diaspora centres, as well as special enrolment for refugees, displaced persons, inmates and persons with disabilities.
To sustain growth, NIMC has boosted its database capacity to 250 million records, deployed more than 1,500 enrolment devices nationwide, and integrated 125 partner agencies—including immigration, tax, health and education—into a unified identity system.
Tinubu commended NIMC’s operational improvements, from enhanced staff welfare and modern facilities to new verification services guaranteeing 99.9% system uptime, alongside ongoing clampdowns on fraud and phishing schemes.
