Enrolment for Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) reached 118.4 million by the end of March 2025, according to the latest figures released by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This marks an increase of approximately one million registrations compared to February’s total of 117.3 million.
Lagos State retained its position as the top-performing state, with a total of 12.7 million individuals registered. Kano followed closely with 10.4 million NINs recorded. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the two states—Nigeria’s most populous—have consistently led in enrolment figures since the exercise began.
Kaduna State ranked third, with 6.9 million people enrolled by the end of March.
Gender Distribution
In terms of gender, the NIMC data reveals a higher number of male enrolees. Of the 118.4 million Nigerians captured in the NIN database, 66.9 million (56.5%) are male, while 51.5 million (43.5%) are female.
Beyond the top three states, other notable contributors to the overall enrolment include Ogun with 4.9 million registrations, Oyo with 4.5 million, and Katsina with 4 million. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded 3.8 million enrolments, followed by Rivers (3.5 million), Delta (3.2 million), and Jigawa (3.1 million).
Conversely, the ten states with the lowest number of enrolees include Imo and Kwara, both with 2 million; Enugu and Kogi with 1.9 million each; Yobe with 1.8 million; Taraba with 1.7 million; Cross River with 1.4 million; Ekiti with 1.1 million; Ebonyi with 999,991; and Bayelsa with the least, at 767,620.
Background and Project Status
Nigeria’s NIN registration initiative is being supported by the World Bank through the Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D) project. The country had initially aimed to register at least 148 million citizens by 30 June 2024. However, this target was missed, prompting the World Bank to extend and restructure the project.
The financial commitment to the project totals $430 million, co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The World Bank announced that the revised deadline for project completion is now 30 June 2026.
The extension, according to the Bank, aims to address the growing demand for an inclusive and reliable digital identity system that enhances transparency, improves governance, and supports the efficient delivery of public services and programmes.