The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has disclosed that approximately 95 million Nigerians are yet to enrol for the National Identification Number (NIN), underscoring the ongoing challenge in achieving universal registration across the country.

This revelation came from Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at the commission, during a recent statement over the weekend. Adegoke emphasized that in order to meet the ambitious target of enrolling 200 million Nigerians by 2025, a substantial portion of the population still needs to register for the NIN.

Citing data from the National Population Commission (NPC), which indicated Nigeria’s population reached 223,804,632 in 2023, representing a 2.41% increase from the previous year, Adegoke stressed the critical importance of accelerating the enrolment process.

“While over 105 million NINs have been issued to Nigerians and legal residents to date, there is a pressing need to expedite enrolment efforts to reach the targeted goal within the specified timeframe,” Adegoke remarked.

The NIN has emerged as a pivotal identifier essential for various government initiatives aimed at bolstering security, governance, and service delivery. Adegoke reiterated the commission’s unwavering commitment to achieving universal enrolment in the NIN system by 2025.

Adegoke highlighted recent improvements in the enrolment process, particularly under the leadership of Abisoye Coker, the newly appointed Director-General of NIMC. Coker’s tenure has seen the introduction of a self-service platform facilitating modifications and enrolments, enabling Nigerians both locally and abroad to update their information conveniently.

The self-service modification portal allows users to make changes such as updating names, dates of birth, email addresses, and phone numbers from the comfort of their homes or offices, utilizing various devices including iOS and Android-based devices.

Adegoke emphasized the user-friendly nature of the self-service portal, urging Nigerians to embrace this innovative solution. He also highlighted the evolution of the enrolment process, highlighting the transition from the traditional requirement of visiting NIMC offices for data corrections to the convenience of online modifications.