The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced a significant leap in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, with over 122 million citizens now enrolled in the National Identity Database (NID).
This pivotal achievement was highlighted during a two-day strategic workshop with online newspaper publishers held in Lagos on Thursday, reaffirming NIMC’s commitment to cultivating an “inclusive, secure, and citizen-driven digital identity system”—a cornerstone for Nigeria’s developmental aspirations.
The Commission is also progressing towards the highly anticipated launch of a transformative General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) in October 2025.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the NIMC Director General/CEO, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Engr. Lanre Yusuf, Director of Information Technology and Identity Database, underscored the media’s vital role in bolstering NIMC’s objectives of digital inclusion, transparency, and national progress.
Yusuf emphasized, “Your role in shaping public understanding and promoting accountability is pivotal”. He further urged a collaborative approach, stating, “Together, we must ensure that every Nigerian understands the value of their identity and is empowered to access services and opportunities through it”.
NIMC has witnessed “dramatic progress in identity coverage”, with Engr. Yusuf revealing a “remarkable 49% increase in just over three years” in National Identity Number (NIN) enrollments, surging from 72.7 million in January 2022 to surpassing 122 million by July 2025.
This substantial growth, he explained, is a direct result of “deliberate reforms, expanded access, and multi-sectoral collaboration” involving “private sector actors, civil society organizations (CSOs), development partners, and the media”.
Yusuf articulated the broader impact, noting, “We are building a unified and secure digital identity system that is now unlocking access to education, healthcare, agriculture, social protection, and financial services”.
Engr. Yusuf detailed a series of “bold reforms and partnerships” that have revolutionized NIMC’s operational framework and bolstered public confidence. These include an “over 40% reduction in extortion through enforcement of a standardized, transparent fee structure”, along with “nationwide automation and system upgrades, accelerating speed and accuracy of NIN enrolments”.
Strategic collaborations with key government bodies such as INEC, JAMB, NHIS, NCC, FIRS, NIS, and CBN, as well as institutions like PENCOM, NSITF, CreditCorp, and the Bank of Industry, are designed to enable “seamless identity verification across sectors”, “streamline access to services, reduce fraud, and power economic inclusion”.
The tangible benefits are already evident, as “Farmers, students, pensioners, and small business owners are now seeing real benefits through identity-linked services”.
In its pursuit of enhancing citizen experience and convenience, NIMC has deployed “cutting-edge digital tools”. These innovations include the NINAuth mobile app for instant identity verification, Self-Service NIN Enrolment and Modification portals, and contactless biometric enrollment for faster and more hygienic service delivery. These advancements are firmly aligned with global ID4D (Identification for Development) standards, ensuring Nigeria’s digital identity framework remains “secure, interoperable, and future-ready”.
Through its Project Implementation Unit (PIU), NIMC has significantly intensified outreach efforts to traditionally underserved demographics, including “women, children, persons with disabilities, and rural communities”. These efforts are supported by the revalidation and training of “7,167 front-end partners and agents across the country”, the establishment of “dedicated grievance redress officers in all 36 states”, and the provision of “a 24/7 toll-free helpline to support public inquiries and complaints”.
Yusuf passionately affirmed NIMC’s commitment to equity, emphasizing, “We’re determined to ensure no one is left behind”, and powerfully articulating that “Identity should not be a luxury; it must be a right for every Nigerian”.
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Internally, NIMC has focused on restoring staff morale and external confidence through key administrative reforms. These include the completion of “2,327 staff promotions between 2023 and 2024”, the training of “1,300+ personnel on digital tools, service delivery, and security protocols”, and the full clearance of a “two-year backlog of payments to enrolment partners”, thereby reinforcing “operational confidence and transparency”.
In a landmark announcement, Engr. Yusuf confirmed that NIMC is set to roll out a General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) in October 2025.
This card is envisioned as a comprehensive tool designed to provide citizens with seamless “access to government services, Banking and financial platforms, Health insurance, and Entry into digital ecosystems and secure verification portals”.
Yusuf characterized the GMPC as “more than just an ID card”, proclaiming it to be “a gateway to opportunity, dignity, and digital citizenship”.
Engr. Yusuf concluded the workshop by appealing directly to media professionals, urging them to act as crucial allies in this national identity mission.
He called upon them to “Report accurately on identity initiatives, Counter misinformation, and Educate citizens on the benefits of secure, inclusive digital ID”.
Expressing gratitude for the media’s past partnership, Yusuf’s final plea resonated: “You have walked this journey with us—challenging us, supporting us, and amplifying our message. Now, let’s do more,” to “build a national identity system that truly leaves no one behind”.