The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced a significant milestone in Nigeria's digital identity drive, revealing that the total number of citizens enrolled for the National Identification Number (NIN) has reached 127 million as of December 2025.
Breakdown of Enrolment Figures Across States
According to data confirmed by NIMC's spokesperson, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the commission's database shows a near-balanced distribution of registrations between the northern and southern regions of the country. Lagos State maintains its lead as the top contributor, with over 13 million registered residents captured in the system.
Data previously available on the NIMC website indicated that by October 31, 2025, total enrolment stood at 123.9 million, suggesting a steady increase in the final months of the year. The commission has stated that a detailed, updated statistical breakdown will be published on its official website shortly.
Top Performing States and Gender Distribution
The states with the highest NIN registration numbers paint a picture of population centers and registration drive effectiveness. Following Lagos, the leading states are:
- Kano State with 11.5 million registrations
- Kaduna State with 7.3 million
- Ogun State with 5.1 million
- Oyo State with 4.7 million
- Katsina State with 4.2 million
The Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), along with Rivers, Delta, and Bauchi states, also feature in the top ten. Conversely, states including Kogi, Enugu, Yobe, Imo, and Kwara recorded the lowest enrolment figures.
On gender distribution, figures from October 2025 showed that over 54.2 million females and approximately 69.7 million males had been enrolled in the national identity database.
Digital Platforms and Performance Challenges
NIMC continues to encourage Nigerians who are yet to register or need to correct their details to use its official digital self-service portal. The commission has repeatedly warned against using unauthorized third-party websites, citing risks of data exposure to fraudsters.
However, this milestone comes against a backdrop of operational challenges. A recent report by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) ranked NIMC among the poorest performing government institutions, alongside the Nigeria Postal Service and the Ministry of Interior. The assessment cited widespread service delays, inactive communication channels, and outdated procedures.
Furthermore, the commission has had to publicly refute allegations that it was selling citizens' personal data, including NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN) details, to fintech companies.
Despite these hurdles, the progression to 127 million enrolments represents a critical step in Nigeria's quest for a comprehensive digital identity framework, essential for streamlining government services, enhancing security, and formalizing the economy.
