Tinubu orders NIMC to enroll all Nigerians by 2026
Analysis based on 14 articles · First reported Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026
The directive is expected to boost the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria, benefiting companies involved in biometric verification and identity management. It may also streamline banking and telecom services by reducing fraud and improving customer verification.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigeria — National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enroll every Nigerian in the national identity database before the end of 2026. The directive was disclosed by NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote on Channels TV's Sunday Politics. NIMC is accelerating enrollment through private partners under the World Bank Group-supported Identification for Development (ID4D) project. The commission has already captured over 137 million Nigerians. The directive follows Tinubu's signing of the NIMC Act 2026 into law on June 26, which strengthens the 'One Person, One Identity' policy and makes the National Identification Number (NIN) the primary credential for accessing public and key private services, including banking, passports, taxation, pensions, land transactions, and consumer credit. The enrollment will also help determine Nigeria's actual population, currently estimated between 200 million and 250 million.
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