The National Identity Management Commission has announced that it has successfully enrolled 59,786 inmates across correctional facilities in Nigeria into the National Identity Database, issuing them National Identification Numbers.
The development, revealed in a statement on Monday, is part of an ongoing collaboration between NIMC and the Nigerian Correctional Service aimed at ensuring no Nigerian is left behind in the country’s identity management system.
According to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusive access to identity services for all citizens, including those in custodial centers.
“As of today, about 74 percent of inmates nationwide have been successfully registered and issued NINs,” Coker-Odusote stated.
“We remain committed to working with key stakeholders to ensure every Nigerian and legal resident is captured in the National Identity System, regardless of their status or location.”
In furtherance of this mandate, the Commission also revealed plans to roll out ward-level enrolment across Nigeria to bring identity services closer to grassroots communities and enhance the reach of the national database.
Coker-Odusote expressed appreciation for the support of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nwakuche Ndidi, and all correctional officers who facilitated the seamless enrolment of inmates.
As of May 2025, NIMC reported that over 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled in its national database, with a goal of covering approximately 95 percent of the country’s population by the end of the year.
This progress, the commission noted, has been bolstered by the deployment of more than 1,000 biometric registration devices across the 774 local government areas, along with recent upgrades to NIMC’s data capture infrastructure.
Coker-Odusote also highlighted recent reforms that have helped curb corruption in the enrolment process.
“By partnering with licensed private agents, known as Frontier Partners, we’ve been able to improve transparency and reach remote, underserved areas. These reforms have helped cut enrolment-related corruption by nearly 40 percent.”
The NIMC encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of the expanded services and assured continued efforts toward building a reliable national identity system that supports security, access to services, and social inclusion.
