NIMC to Commence Ward-Level NIN Enrollment Nationwide on February 16

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has revealed plans to kick off ward-level enrollment for National Identification Numbers (NIN) nationwide on February 16, 2026. This move comes in response to a presidential directive mandating NIN registration at the grassroots level to achieve a thorough registration of every Nigerian citizen and legal resident, encompassing both children and adults.

The initiative seeks to bolster the National Identity Database managed by NIMC. The enrollment exercise will be conducted free of charge initially, aligning with the federal government's efforts to enhance identity inclusion and expand access to public services.

NIMC has embarked on consultations and awareness campaigns at national, state, and local government levels to ensure a seamless rollout. The World Bank's Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project, launched in 2020, supports Nigeria's efforts to register its citizens in the NIN database.

NIMC aims to issue NINs to 180 million Nigerians by the end of 2026, with the country's population estimated at 230 million.