The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, says the agency has captured more than 206,000 refugees and internally displaced persons, alongside over 32,000 prison inmates, into Nigeria’s national identity database as part of efforts to expand inclusive digital identity coverage across the country.
Speaking during a presentation at ID4Africa 2026, Coker-Odusote revealed that the commission aims to achieve 180 million enrolments by December 2026 as Nigeria continues to strengthen its digital identity system.
READ MORE: Makinde announces 2027 presidential bid, seals alliance with APM
According to her, Nigeria’s identity management journey began in 1977 during the military era, while the creation of NIMC through Act No. 23 of 2007 provided the legal backing for a centralised and secure national identity database.
She explained that the country’s identity management framework has transformed from a fragmented, registration-based structure into a broader digital public ecosystem supporting governance, financial inclusion, national security and effective service delivery.
On inclusion, she noted that over 206,000 refugees and internally displaced persons, in addition to more than 32,000 inmates, have now been integrated into the national identity database to ensure wider access for vulnerable groups.
“Our system has evolved from isolated databases and manual operations into an integrated platform that enables interoperability, identity verification and real-time authentication across multiple sectors,” she said.
Highlighting achievements recorded between 2007 and 2023, the NIMC boss said the commission established the National Identity Database, launched the NIN Mobile App, introduced the Person Identification Verification Service (PIVS), and implemented the NIN-SIM linkage policy.
She added that the NIN-SIM integration policy became a major driver of digital identity adoption within the telecommunications sector, boosting enrolment figures and improving identity verification nationwide.
Coker-Odusote further disclosed that Nigeria had attained 127 million unique identity records as of December 2025.
She also revealed that more than 800 new mobile enrolment devices were deployed nationwide to accelerate registration and improve access, particularly in underserved communities.
About The Author
