The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that 110 million Nigerians now have National Identification Numbers (NINs).
This is 2.39% increase from the 107.34 million recorded in May 2024.
NIMC DG, Abisoye Coker-Odusote disclosed this during the 6th National Day of Identity with the theme “Digital Public Infrastructure: Enabling Access to Services” which held on Monday in Abuja.
She attributed the growth to the strategies of the current NIMC management and stressed the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Nigeria’s development.
DPI’s Role in Development
Coker-Odusote said DPI is key to connecting citizens to services like healthcare, social welfare, education and financial inclusion.
She noted that NIMC as the agency that issues NINs has enrolled over 110 million Nigerians and that’s the foundation for other components of DPI – data exchange and payment systems.
She said, “DPI has become essential to Nigeria’s development, it provides a framework that connects citizens to services… This is an opportunity for the other two pillars of DPI – data exchange and payment – to be layered on top of foundational identity for its development and adoption.”
Enabling Digitalisation
According to the NIMC DG, Nigeria’s digital infrastructure has also enabled the government to implement digital identity and payment systems. She mentioned the Student Loan Initiative which has covered 257 institutions, registered 332,715 students and paid over 18,000 students.
She said this shows how DPI can remove financial barriers to education.
Coker-Odusote said, “We are on the right path, we have made significant progress through collaboration with government agencies and private sector players.
“Linking NINs with phone numbers through telecom companies and harmonizing NIN with BVN in financial institutions has enabled digital payments, digital money, digital identity and digital processes.”
She concluded by reaffirming NIMC’s commitment to building on these successes and continuing to improve access to essential services through DPI.
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