The number of Nigerians with National Identification Numbers (NIN) rose to 104.16 million as of the end of December, 2023, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has disclosed.
This reflects a 10.77% rise from the 94.03 million recorded at the close of December 2022, indicating that only 10.13 million Nigerians registered for NIN in 2023. Monthly enrollment averages reveal that, on average, 844,167 Nigerians obtained NIN each month in 2023.
This falls significantly short of the Federal Government’s target of 2.5 million registrations per month. Furthermore, the total number of NIN registrations in 2023 is considerably lower compared to the 21.33 million registrations in 2022.
Commenting on enrollment in 2023, NIMC said, “NIMC’s enrolment figures as of December 31, 2023, currently stand at over 104.16 million unique records.
“The highest cumulative enrolment figure of over 11.4 million was recorded in Lagos State. Regional figures indicated an almost equal distribution across the North and South.”
To date, 530,345 Nigerians in the diaspora have acquired NINs, with 59.12 million males and 45.04 million females now having NINs.
The top five states in NIN enrollments are Lagos (11.43 million), Kano (9.19 million), Kaduna (6.45 million), Ogun (4.41 million), and Oyo (4.04 million). Conversely, the bottom five states for enrollments, in descending order, are Taraba (1.49 million), Cross-River (1.19 million), Ekiti (1.03 million), Ebonyi (839,506), and Bayelsa (657,484).
As outlined in its National Development Plan 2021-2025, the Federal Government aims to enroll 100 million Nigerians within three years, with a monthly target of 2.5 million people. The plan underscores the challenges posed by the lack of comprehensive data in the country.
It said, “The latest of these is the Nigerian Communications Commission linking SIM Registration Data to the National Identity Number Database. NIMC plans to register an additional 100 million people in three years and has embarked on a massive registration drive. The plan is to enroll 2.5 million people monthly for the next three years.”
In 2023, NIMC got a new DG, and the Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer, NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, noted that there would be a seamless registration process for the National Identification Number in the country and the diaspora.
She said, “A unified identity system ensures that citizens receive the services they are entitled to in a more efficient manner.
“Under my watch, NIMC will strengthen the operation and regulation of all matters related to national identity, which encompasses services such as NIN enrolment.”
Lately, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission have instructed individuals with bank accounts and telecommunication subscriptions to ensure the linkage of their bank accounts and SIMs with their NINs.
Each regulator, overseeing the banking and telecom sectors, respectively, has communicated distinct deadlines for compliance through separate announcements to the public.
The CBN said, “Ensure all operated accounts/wallets created through agents, are fully profiled in the NIBSS ICAD and tagged with valid and correct BVN and/or NIN.”
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, after getting a directive from the NCC, told the public, “That all MSISDNs (SIMs) for which the subscribers have not submitted their NINs, are to be barred on or before 28 February 2024. That where five or more MSISDNs are linked to an unverified NIN, such MSISDNs are to be barred on or before 29 March 2024.”