In a major push to ensure national identity inclusivity, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC has announced the successful enrollment and issuance of National Identification Numbers, NINs to 59,786 inmates across correctional centres in Nigeria.
The milestone was achieved in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), as part of a broader effort to bring every Nigerian and legal resident into the national identity ecosystem.
The initiative is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the expansion of digital identity coverage as a pillar for inclusive governance and social service delivery.
According to NIMC, 74 percent of inmates nationwide have now been enrolled and issued their NINs, with efforts ongoing to cover the remaining eligible inmates.
The Commission expressed its appreciation for the continued support of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Nwakuche Ndidi; as well as the management and staff of the NCoS.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that no demographic or location is left behind in the national identity drive.
“The successful enrollment of nearly 60,000 inmates demonstrates our resolve to leave no one behind. Identity is a right and a foundation for accessing essential services and justice. This achievement paves the way for full digital inclusion of underserved populations,” Dr. Coker-Odusote said.
In a further expansion of its outreach, NIMC is now set to commence ward-level enrollment nationwide, taking the identity registration process directly to communities.
The ward-level initiative is a central component of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to strengthen the integrity of the National Identity System and accelerate grassroots access to services.
Dr. Coker-Odusote added that NIMC will partner with key stakeholders, including local governments, traditional institutions, civil society groups, and community-based organizations, to drive the ward-level exercise.
“We are building a robust, people-centered identity infrastructure. Every ward will be touched, and every Nigerian and legal resident will be given the opportunity to be identified and included,” she affirmed.
With this latest development, NIMC continues to play a critical role in enabling access to social programs, digital finance, security databases, and national planning tools.
The Commission has reiterated that stakeholders at all levels must join hands to actualize the vision of a truly inclusive identity system for Nigeria.