The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has recorded a surge in National Identification Number (NIN) enrolments, adding 7 million new entries in the first half of 2025. As of June 30, 2025, the total number of Nigerians with NINs stood at 121 million, up from 114 million at the end of 2024.
This growth suggests that Nigeria may exceed the 10 million annual increase recorded in 2024, putting the country on course to achieve NIMC’s ambitious goal of registering 95% of Nigerians by the end of 2025.
State-by-State Breakdown: Lagos Still Leads
According to NIMC data, Lagos State maintains its lead with 12.9 million registered individuals — the highest across the country. It is followed closely by:
- Kano State – 11.07 million
- Kaduna State – 7.1 million (displacing Ogun)
- Ogun State – 5.06 million
Gender Distribution
Of the 121 million Nigerians enrolled:
- 68.4 million (56.5%) are male
- 52.9 million (43.5%) are female
Youth Corps Deployment to Boost Coverage
To fast-track enrolment and reach remote or underserved areas, NIMC is deploying National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members under its Ward Enrolment Initiative.
According to the Commission:
“Selected Corps members are currently undergoing intensive training to begin enrolment activities in various wards, with a focus on registering children below the age of 16 and residents in rural communities.”
NIMC’s Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, stated that this grassroots-level initiative will not only bring enrolment closer to the people but also provide a clearer picture of Nigeria’s actual population, aiding national planning and development.
World Bank-Backed National ID Drive
The enrolment push is part of Nigeria’s broader effort under the World Bank’s Digital Identity for Development (ID4D) project, which aims to provide all citizens with a verifiable digital identity.
Although Nigeria missed its initial target of enrolling 148 million people by June 30, 2024, the World Bank and other project financiers have restructured and extended the project deadline to June 30, 2026.
The $430 million digital identity initiative is co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Bottom Line
With over 121 million Nigerians now registered in the NIN database and new strategies like ward-level enrolment underway, NIMC is making significant progress toward achieving near-universal digital identity coverage. The success of this effort will play a crucial role in improving national planning, service delivery, and digital inclusion.
