Free grassroots registration drive targets full identity coverage as Nigeria pushes toward 180 million NIN goal by 2026…..
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to commence nationwide ward-level enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN) beginning February 16, 2026.
The Commission disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Kayode Adegoke, on Wednesday, noting that the initiative follows a presidential directive to expand NIN registration to the grassroots across the country.
According to NIMC, the ward-level exercise is designed to ensure comprehensive enrollment of every Nigerian citizen and legal resident, including both adults and children, into the National Identity Database.
The Commission stated that the registration will be conducted free of charge and forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to deepen identity inclusion, strengthen inclusive governance and improve access to public services.
“The ward-level enrolment initiative represents a strategic step towards deepening identity inclusion, decentralising services and bringing registration closer to communities, thereby improving accessibility, reducing travel burden and promoting nationwide participation,” the statement said.
NIMC urged Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to obtain their NIN to take advantage of the opportunity and participate fully in the exercise.
The Commission also revealed that consultations and sensitisation campaigns have begun at the national, state and local government levels to ensure a smooth rollout. State governments, local government chairpersons, traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations and faith-based organisations are being engaged to support awareness and mobilisation efforts.
NIMC called on the public to participate actively in the ward-to-ward exercise and ensure that children, parents and other family members who have not yet enrolled are registered within their communities.
The nationwide push comes under Nigeria’s Digital Identity for National Development project launched in 2020 with support from the World Bank.
In 2024, Nigeria missed the World Bank’s target of registering at least 148 million citizens by June 30, leading to the extension and restructuring of the project. The World Bank said the extension was necessary to ensure full disbursement of the 430 million dollars committed to the programme by its financiers, including the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank.
Following the restructuring, the project timeline has been extended by two years to December 31, 2026.
With Nigeria’s population estimated at about 230 million, the latest data from NIMC shows that 123.9 million Nigerians had been issued NIN as of October 2025. This represents an increase from 114 million recorded at the end of 2024, indicating that 9.9 million new NINs were issued in the first ten months of 2025.
Under the current Digital Identity project targets, NIMC aims to expand enrollment to about 180 million Nigerians by the end of 2026.
