President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, September 16, directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to work towards achieving 95 per cent National Identity Number (NIN) coverage by December 2026.
Tinubu gave the directive at the state house, Abuja, while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Identity Day celebration organised by NIMC.
The president was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, while the theme of the celebration was “Nigeria’s digital public ecosystem: powering Africa’s digital economy.”
The event was attended by the representative of vice president Kashim Shettima, Ibrahim Hadejia, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa and other government officials.
Tinubu acknowledged NIMC’s progress in expanding the National Identity Database, noting that NIN enrolment had reached about 142 million, up from more than 80 million Nigerians captured when he assumed office.
He said the 95 per cent coverage target should be pursued through expanded ward-level enrolment, mobile registration initiatives and continued deployment of licensed enrolment networks.
The president said his administration’s vision went beyond expanding NIN coverage, stressing the need for an identity system that remained useful, secure and responsive to Nigerians’ needs.
“We are laying the foundations for a future of integrated digital services, including e-health records, e-transport systems and a more harmonised national data architecture,” he said.
Tinubu said the expansion of digital identity must be accompanied by protection of citizens’ rights, privacy and dignity.
“Our commitment must therefore remain clear, innovation must be matched by responsibility. Efficiency must be matched by inclusion, security must be matched by trust. And digital transformation must ultimately improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
He called on Nigerians who had not obtained their NIN to do so, describing the number as their connection to a modern Nigerian state.
Tinubu also said the National Identity Day theme was relevant to Nigeria’s digital development, adding that the country’s digital ecosystem should support the growth of its digital economy and contribute to Africa’s development.
The president described national identity as a key component of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying identity transformation was contributing to its development priorities.
He said the NIMC ecosystem had also created economic opportunities through licensed enrolment networks across the country.
According to him, more than 173 private companies, 30 state governments and 14 public-sector institutions had been approved as licensed enrolment agents, creating jobs for enrolment officers, data professionals, supervisors, technology specialists and other support personnel.
Tinubu also linked a secure identity system to national security, saying stronger identity verification and responsible information sharing could help combat identity fraud, financial crimes and other security threats.
He cited collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as an example of how government institutions could work together through identity systems.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, praised NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote for her leadership and called for wider, easier and more convenient access to identity services, including for Nigerians living abroad.
Tunji-Ojo said the government needed to strengthen national public key infrastructure and other digital systems supporting secure identity, authentication and electronic trust services.
Coker-Odusote, in her remarks, thanked Tinubu and the Interior Ministry for their support and said the backing had contributed to the transformation of Nigeria’s identity management system.
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