By Peter Dansu In a major push to deepen grassroots inclusion and strengthen Nigeria’s national identity system, President Bola Ahmed Tinub...
By Peter Dansu
In a major push to deepen grassroots inclusion and strengthen Nigeria’s national identity system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission NIMC to take National Identification Number registration to all wards across the 774 local government areas of the country, free of charge.
The Commission announced on Wednesday that the nationwide ward level registration and enrolment exercise would commence on February 16, marking a new phase in the federal government’s drive to ensure every Nigerian citizen and legal resident is captured in the National Identity Database.
According to the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Dr Kayode Adegoke, the initiative follows a presidential directive aimed at mobilising communities at the grassroots and removing barriers that have hindered access to NIN registration over the years.
He explained that the exercise would cover both children and adults and would be conducted at no cost to the public, in line with President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda focused on inclusive governance and improved access to essential services.
Adegoke described the ward to ward enrolment as a strategic move to decentralise identity services and bring registration closer to the people, particularly those in rural and hard to reach communities.
He said the programme would significantly reduce travel stress, improve accessibility, and encourage mass participation nationwide, adding that over 123 million Nigerians have already been enrolled in the system.
NIMC has begun extensive engagement with key stakeholders including state governments, local council authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations and faith based organisations to ensure a smooth and successful rollout of the exercise.
The Commission is also intensifying public sensitisation campaigns to educate Nigerians on the importance and benefits of having a NIN, especially as it continues to serve as a gateway to government services, financial inclusion and national planning.
Adegoke urged Nigerians who are yet to register to seize the opportunity, calling on families to enrol their children, parents and relatives within their communities.
He noted that detailed ward enrolment schedules guiding the movement of NIMC officials and licensed partners would be available on the Commission’s website, while inquiries and complaints could be directed to the NIMC toll free line.
With this nationwide outreach, the federal government is expected to move closer to achieving a comprehensive and reliable national identity system, strengthening governance, security and service delivery across the country.
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