In a renewed push to achieve full coverage of the National Identification Number (NIN) registration across Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to support mass enrolment efforts across the country. The move is part of a strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the NYSC.
According to a statement issued by Kayode Adegoke, Head of NIMC’s Corporate Communications, selected Corps members are already undergoing intensive training in preparation for their deployment to various wards. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the nationwide enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents into the NIN database within the shortest time possible.
So far, NIMC has enrolled over 120 million Nigerians and residents. However, many rural and underserved communities remain excluded from the process. The new Ward Enrolment Initiative aims to bridge this gap by bringing registration centres closer to the grassroots and making the process more accessible—particularly for children under 16 years of age who are yet to be captured.
“This initiative is designed to take NIN enrolment closer to the people. We urge all Nigerians, especially parents and guardians, to take advantage of the presence of trained Corps members in their communities to register their children and dependents,” the Commission urged.
NIMC’s Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to achieving 95% NIN enrolment by December 2025. She explained that the nationwide push would be powered by expanded infrastructure, newly trained personnel, and enhanced public awareness campaigns.
“What we have done is initiate the Ward Enrolment Exercise to register at least 95% of Nigerians by the end of this year,” she said, adding that the accurate identification of citizens is critical for effective national planning and service delivery.
This latest effort comes amid Nigeria’s ongoing participation in the World Bank-supported Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D)project, which aims to provide legal identification for all. The project, originally targeting 148 million registered Nigerians by June 2024, fell short of the deadline, prompting the World Bank to extend the project timeline to June 30, 2026. The $430 million initiative is co-financed by the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
With the deployment of Youth Corps members and the Ward Enrolment strategy now in motion, NIMC is looking to regain momentum and deliver on its promise to digitize identity management while ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind.
