The number of Nigerians in the diaspora enrolling for the National Identification Number (NIN) has surged by 307.88 per cent, jumping from 366,164 in 2023 to 1.49 million in 2025, as the federal government enhances accessibility and streamlines the registration process.
New data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) highlights the growing participation of Nigerians abroad, with 930,044 males and 563,469 females now registered.
The total number of NIN enrolments, both domestic and international, has also increased significantly, rising by 21.24 per cent from 96.5 million to 117 million within the same period.
The reason for this is not far-fetched, as the federal government has taken major steps to simplify the enrolment process for Nigerians living abroad.
Recall, in 2024, it launched a dedicated mobile app and a diaspora focal point desk, promising to resolve registration issues within 24 hours. Additionally, a contactless enrolment software is being rolled out to further ease access.
NIMC first introduced diaspora NIN registration in 2019, making it mandatory for overseas Nigerians to obtain a NIN for passport renewals and other official transactions. Since then, enrolment centers have expanded to 77 countries, including 40 in Africa, 23 in Europe/Oceania, nine in Asia/Middle East, and five in the Americas.
The NIN project has received $228.59 million from a $430 million funding package backed by the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the European Investment Bank. The World Bank asserts that strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity system will not only benefit its citizens but also unlock new economic opportunities and boost the country’s digital economy.
