President Bola Tinubu has directed that National Identification Number (NIN) coverage reach 95 percent by December, as enrolment figures climbed to 142 million.
The directive signals an intensified effort to close the identity gap in Nigeria and strengthen the database that underpins tax administration, financial inclusion, and regulatory compliance. The National Identity Management Commission remains the agency responsible for maintaining the identity register.
The 142 million enrolment milestone marks significant progress in expanding the national identity base, although it still leaves a shortfall against the 95 percent target now set as the end-of-year benchmark.
For businesses and taxpayers, the NIN is central to compliance. The Federal Inland Revenue Service has integrated the NIN with the Tax Identification Number framework for individual taxpayers, making the identity number an important gateway for tax registration, filing, and verification. Financial institutions also require the NIN for account opening and customer due diligence processes under existing rules.
Achieving near-universal NIN coverage would widen the pool of identifiable individuals available for tax assessment and improve the quality of data used in fiscal planning and revenue forecasting. It could also support measures to curb tax evasion, reduce duplication of records, and improve the matching of income records with taxpayers.
The December deadline introduces urgency for enrolment centres, state agencies, and service providers involved in identity capture. Meeting the target will depend on the pace of enrolment in underserved areas, the capacity of registration infrastructure, and continued collaboration between federal agencies and private sector partners. State and local government offices may also be expected to play a role in extending enrolment to remote communities.
Broader identity coverage also supports the government's financial inclusion agenda and could reduce friction in access to banking, credit, and digital services that rely on verified identity records. For regulated businesses, higher NIN coverage may translate into more consistent identity verification during customer onboarding.
