By peter
Over the past five years, Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment has emerged as a cornerstone of the country’s digital public infrastructure (DPI). With unique NINs rising from 40 million to approximately 127 million, the initiative marks significant progress in establishing a foundational digital identity system. Yet, questions remain about how effectively this digital ID has translated into an inclusive digital economy.
The Push for a Digital Identity
On December 14, 2020, former Minister of Communications and Technology, Prof. Isa Pantami, outlined a vision for a centralized digital identity system in Nigeria. Two days later, he mandated compulsory NIN enrolment through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), requiring all mobile subscribers to link their SIM cards with valid NINs.
Despite the initiative’s forward-looking goals, initial rollout faced resistance, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when social distancing concerns clashed with the need to crowd enrolment centres.
NIN as a Pillar of Digital Public Infrastructure
The NIN has been positioned as a foundational layer of Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting governance, service delivery, and economic inclusion. Enrolment has increased substantially: from 14 million in 2000, 28 million in 2015, to 114 million in 2024, reaching 127 million in 2025.
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Gender distribution: 56.25% men, 43.7% women
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Top states by NIN issuance: Lagos (13.1m), Kano (11.5m), Kaduna (7.3m)
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Bottom states: Bayelsa (803,874), Ebonyi (1.03m), Ekiti (1.16m)
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Diaspora enrolment: 1.53 million
Yet, over 100 million Nigerians remain without NINs, disproportionately affecting rural and remote populations due to limited broadband access, lack of enrolment centres, and logistical barriers. Broadband penetration stands at 49.8%, below the 70% target set for 2025.
Challenges in Rural Enrolment
Residents in underserved areas, like Aiyetoro, Ondo State, report difficulties including repeated registration attempts, poor connectivity, and unofficial fees charged by private vendors under the NIMC Front-End Partners (FEP) programme. National security experts warn that this urban-centric enrolment model leaves rural populations excluded from full digital economy benefits.
Slow Institutional Integration
While the NIN is increasingly required for passports, driver’s licenses, voter registration, student loans, and mobile services, inter-agency harmonisation remains slow. NIMC officials note that legal and institutional constraints have hindered seamless data integration across government agencies, slowing the establishment of a unified National Identity Database.
Limited Impact on Security
Although the NIN-SIM linkage was intended to curb crime, security challenges persist, highlighting underutilisation of NIN data by agencies like the police and DSS. Experts say the lack of real-time API access and persistent data silos limit the system’s effectiveness in addressing crime and improving governance.
Financial Inclusion and Fraud Concerns
Integration of NIN with banking and financial services aims to improve financial inclusion, simplify KYC processes, and reduce fraud. However, rising cases of mobile wallet theft, phishing attacks, and a surge in card-related fraud have eroded public trust in digital platforms. Nigerian banks lost N3.3 billion to fraud in Q1 2025, a 137% increase from the previous quarter.
NIMC’s Ongoing Efforts
NIMC insists the NIN is making a measurable impact, offering verifiable digital identities that help track criminal activity, reduce impersonation, and strengthen service delivery. Recent upgrades include:
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Purchase of over 2,500 new enrolment devices
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Rehabilitation of 100+ enrolment centres
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Database upgrade for secure identity management
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Harmonisation with 250+ federal and state agencies for verification services
Despite these improvements, experts stress that achieving a fully inclusive digital economy will require bridging rural connectivity gaps, expanding enrolment access, and ensuring effective inter-agency use of NIN data.
