NIMC signs agreements with Lagos and Jigawa identity agencies to expand NIN enrolment through school visits and door-to-door registration

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), led by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has signed two Memoranda of Understanding with identity management agencies in Lagos and Jigawa states to expand National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment and improve coverage across Nigeria.

The agreements, involving the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) and the Jigawa State Resident Identity Management Agency, are designed to strengthen collaboration between federal and state institutions and extend identity registration to people who may face difficulties accessing conventional enrolment centres.

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Under the proposed partnerships, the agencies will support additional registration initiatives, including school-to-school and door-to-door enrolment exercises, with particular attention to children, underserved populations and residents of hard-to-reach communities.

The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to establish a more comprehensive national identity database and ensure that eligible Nigerians are captured in the system.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Coker-Odusote reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to working with state governments and other institutional partners to strengthen identity management and promote wider participation in the national registration exercise.

She emphasised the importance of ensuring that no eligible Nigerian is excluded from the country’s identity system, particularly those in communities where access to registration services remains limited.

The partnerships are expected to improve the reach of NIN enrolment by taking registration services closer to residents, rather than relying exclusively on people travelling to designated enrolment centres.

Children are among the key groups targeted by the initiative, as early identity registration can help establish reliable records that support planning, access to services and future verification needs.

The Lagos partnership also builds on existing efforts to strengthen cooperation between state and national identity institutions. In October 2024, LASRRA hosted NIMC officials to discuss collaboration and the integration of state and national identity systems.

More recently, Lagos State has expanded its own residents’ registration efforts in schools. From the 2026/2027 academic session, the state made LASRRA registration a requirement for learner enrolment in public and private schools, with arrangements for registration support and improved record-keeping.

At the national level, NIMC has also been pursuing wider coverage through community-based registration initiatives. In July 2026, the commission’s Director-General disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the agency to work towards enrolling every Nigerian in the national identity database before the end of the year.

The national identity system is intended to provide a reliable means of establishing and verifying individual identities. The NIN is an 11-digit unique identifier linked to an individual’s demographic and biometric information in the National Identity Database.

Beyond identification, a more comprehensive database can support public-sector planning, improve identity verification and help eligible residents access essential services and government programmes.

However, expanding enrolment will also require sustained attention to data protection, accuracy and the security of personal information, particularly as more registration activities move into schools and local communities.

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NIMC has reiterated its commitment to providing assured identity for Nigerians and legal residents, with the latest agreements representing another step towards extending registration opportunities and strengthening the country’s identity management framework.