NIMC to Deploy NYSC Members Nationwide for NIN Enrolment Ahead of 2025 Target

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced a new initiative to accelerate the registration of Nigerians into the National Identification Number (NIN) system by deploying trained members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across the country.

This move is part of a nationwide strategy to bring the NIN registration process closer to communities through a Ward Enrolment Exercise. The plan is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and the NYSC.

According to NIMC, selected Corps members are currently undergoing intensive training. Once completed, they will be posted to various wards across Nigeria to begin registration activities.

The initiative supports the government’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to enroll all Nigerians and legal residents into the NIN system within a short period.

So far, NIMC has successfully registered over 120 million individuals. However, it aims to reach areas that are underserved or previously unreachable using this new ward-based approach.

Children under 16 years of age and others in remote communities are especially encouraged to take part in this registration drive, as it brings services directly to local communities and reduces the burden of long-distance travel.

The Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has set a national target to register 95% of Nigerians into the NIN system by December 2025. To meet this goal, the Commission plans to expand its registration centers, enhance public awareness, and strengthen technical infrastructure.

This new phase is also linked to Nigeria’s commitment under the World Bank-supported Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D) project. The country initially missed a June 2024 milestone of enrolling at least 148 million people, prompting a project extension.

The revised deadline for the full execution of the ID4D program is now June 30, 2026, with financial support from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), and European Investment Bank (EIB).

NIMC believes that once the Ward Enrolment Exercise is fully operational, it will enable the government to have a more accurate count of Nigerians and help improve national planning, security, and service delivery.

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