Nigeria aims for near-universal digital identity by 2026
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the Federal Government of Nigeria intends to enroll 95% of citizens in the National Identification Number (NIN) system by December 2026.
Tinubu, through his Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, stated the government is building digital infrastructure to support economic growth using the NIN system. This includes developing a Sovereign Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to secure digital transactions and government communications.
The government believes a robust digital identity system will improve access to public services like healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has already recorded nearly 140 million NIN enrollments, and the infrastructure can now handle 250 million records. Several ministries are integrating NIN into their programs.
The Ministry of Education is using NIN to clean up its database of over 75 million students and to prevent exam fraud, and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided financing to over 800,000 students through the system. The NIMC has also expanded enrollment to all 8,809 wards across the country and trained over 5,000 agents to assist vulnerable populations. The recent NIMC Act 2026 provides a stronger legal framework for digital identity management and data protection.
