President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enrol every Nigerian in the national identity database by the end of 2026, according to NIMC Director General Abisoye Coker-Odusote.

The directive is part of the Federal Government’s effort to create a comprehensive national identity system for better governance and service delivery.

Coker-Odusote explained that NIMC is partnering with the World Bank’s ID4D project to accelerate enrolment, enabling private citizens to assist in registration.The NIN remains a unique identifier, ensuring individuals are registered only once.Nigeria’s population estimates range from 200 million to 250 million, making accurate data essential for planning.The biometric verification system prevents duplicate identities, with telcos already using NIMC’s database for SIM card registrations.

The new NIMC Act 2026 reinforces the 'One Person, One Identity' policy, with stricter penalties for identity theft and expanded data privacy protections.