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FG Targets 95% NIN Coverage by December 2026

The Federal Government is targeting 95 per cent National Identification Number (NIN) coverage nationwide by December 2026 as it expands Nigeria’s digital identity system.

President Bola Tinubu announced the target during the 2026 National Identity Day celebration in Abuja, where he was represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

The President said NIN enrolment had risen to about 142 million, up from more than 80 million recorded when his administration came into office.

To reach the new target, the government plans to expand registration through ward-level enrolment, mobile registration initiatives and licensed agents. Reports from the event said free enrolment is being extended to all 8,809 wards across the country.

Identity System for Digital Economy

Tinubu said the government wants to build an identity infrastructure that can support Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

He said a secure national identity could make it easier to access services while supporting areas such as digital banking, healthcare, transportation and government programmes.

The President also said the expansion must go hand in hand with safeguards for citizens’ privacy and dignity.

Beyond enrolment numbers, he said the government was working towards a more connected digital public system, including electronic health records, e-transport services and a more coordinated national data architecture.

The NIMC’s ongoing expansion therefore aims not only to register more Nigerians and legal residents, but also to make the identity system a key part of how people access digital and public services.