FG targets 95% NIN coverage by December

The Federal Government is targeting 95 per cent National Identification Number enrolment coverage by December 2026 as it moves to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure.

President Bola Tinubu disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the 8th National Identity Day celebration.

The President, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the government was developing the digital infrastructure needed to make identity management a driver of economic growth.

He said a trusted national identity system would be central to the country’s digital economy, with applications across financial services, healthcare, education, social protection, digital commerce and mobility.

“Nigeria’s digital ecosystem must power Nigeria’s digital economy and Nigeria’s digital economy must help power Africa’s economy. Our identity infrastructure will be a critical component of this ambition,” Tinubu said.

The President also disclosed that the government was accelerating the development of a Sovereign Public Key Infrastructure as part of its broader Digital Public Infrastructure architecture.

According to him, the system would provide a trust framework for secure digital signatures, electronic documents, encrypted transactions and government communications.

He said the infrastructure would also allow businesses to conduct digital transactions with greater confidence and enable government documents to be authenticated electronically.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding Digital Public Infrastructure, describing it as essential to improving access to public services and advancing healthcare, education and financial inclusion.

The President commended the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her leadership of the agency.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described identity management as critical to economic development, national security and social inclusion.

Tunji-Ojo said the President’s assent to the NIMC Act 2026 had provided a stronger legal framework for digital identity management and the country’s digital economy.

He said reliable population data was necessary for effective government planning and delivery of services, particularly in education, healthcare and social interventions.

The minister urged NIMC to expand NIN enrolment access for Nigerians living abroad while accelerating the development of trusted PKI and DPI systems for secure digital authentication.

He also urged Nigerians to complete their NIN enrolment and safeguard their identity credentials.

“Your identity is your digital footprint,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, also stressed the importance of reliable identity systems to education planning and access.

Coker-Odusote said the NIMC Act 2026 had strengthened data protection provisions, expanded mandatory NIN usage and increased penalties for identity-related offences.

She said NIN was increasingly being integrated into economic and public-sector systems, with more than 173 private companies, 30 state governments and 14 public institutions licensed as enrolment partners.

According to her, the NIN has also served as the Tax Identification Number for individuals since January 1, 2026.

She added that more than 800,000 students had accessed education financing through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund following the integration of the identity system.

Coker-Odusote said NIMC’s integration with agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Revenue Service and National Population Commission was strengthening national security and service delivery.

The National Identity Day event was attended by the ministers of Interior, Education, and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, among other government officials.