The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has reported over 743,085 NINs issued in the month of August. The latest figures bring the total number of NIN enrollments to 102.39 million Nigerians registered since the beginning of the year.
While the data released by NIMC shows that the enrollment rate for NIN had slowed down since July 2023, the August number is nonetheless an improvement from July which witnessed 634,603 enrollments.
Additionally, the enrollment numbers in the last two months were lower than usual, because in previous months, about 1 million people were enrolling on average.
NIMC’s data highlights that Lagos State remains at the forefront with the highest number of enrollments in Nigeria, having captured a total of 11.17 million Nigerians within its borders. Kano State takes the second position with 9.07 million registered National Identification Numbers (NIN). These figures illustrate the strong enrollment response in both states.
The data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics highlights that the two most populous states in Nigeria, Lagos, and Kano, have consistently led in terms of enrolling citizens for the National Identification Number (NIN) since the beginning of the enrollment process. Looking at the gender distribution among enrollees, NIMC’s data reveals that out of the individuals registered in the NIN database, 58.15 million (56.8%) are male, while 44.23 million (43.2%) are female.
Diverse enrollment patterns across Nigeria: Leading and lagging states in NIN issuance
Beyond Lagos and Kano, several other states have also shown significant enrollment numbers. These include Kaduna with 6.3 million enrollees, Ogun with 4.3 million, Oyo with 3.9 million, Katsina with 3.5 million, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 3.4 million, Rivers with 3 million, Bauchi with 2.7 million, and Delta with another 2.7 million. On the contrary, NIMC data also identifies the states with the lowest NIN issuance: Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Kogi, Enugu, Yobe, Taraba, Cross River, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa.
The slowdown in NIN enrollments during August could have significant implications for Nigeria’s ability to fulfil the objectives set by the World Bank’s Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project. According to the terms of this project, Nigeria is expected to have issued a total of 148 million National Identification Numbers (NIN) by June 2024. However, with the current monthly average well below the 1 million average enrollments, there’s uncertainty as to whether Nigeria will be able to meet this deadline, especially given the timeline of less than a year remaining.
In addition to the overarching target of issuing 148 million NIN by 2024, the World Bank has outlined other specific goals as part of the ID4D project. One such objective is to provide NIN to at least 65 million Nigerian women by June 1, 2024. Furthermore, there is a target of issuing 50 million NIN to children under the age of 16 by the same deadline. These targets reflect the nature of the project, aiming not only at universal coverage but also at reaching specific demographic groups that might be underrepresented or marginalized.
Some other strategies Nigeria’s authorities can develop to accelerate the enrollment process could involve expanding enrollment centres, enhancing public awareness campaigns, and streamlining administrative processes to facilitate faster and smoother registrations.
By taking proactive steps to boost enrollment rates, Nigeria can work towards meeting the World Bank’s targets and ensuring the widespread issuance of NIN to its citizens.
Enrolling in the National Identification Number (NIN) system is crucial for individuals and the government alike. It enhances security, facilitates efficient service delivery, aids in social welfare programs, and supports proper identification in financial transactions.
Read More: NIMC records 634,603 NIN enrolments in July, well below monthly average of 1 million
Technext Newsletter
Get the best of Africa’s daily tech to your inbox – first thing every morning.
Join the community now!
