BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that nationwide ward-level enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN) will commence on Monday, February 16, 2026.
The initiative follows a presidential directive mandating the Commission to take NIN registration to the grassroots to ensure that every Nigerian citizen and legal resident—both children and adults—is captured in the National Identity Database at no cost.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, the Commission said the exercise is designed to achieve comprehensive registration across the country. He noted that the enrollment will be conducted free of charge as part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at promoting inclusive governance, national development, and broader access to identity services.
According to the Commission, the ward-level enrollment represents a strategic move to deepen identity inclusion by decentralizing registration services and bringing them closer to communities. The approach is expected to improve accessibility, reduce the burden of travel to distant enrollment centers, and encourage wider participation nationwide.
NIMC said it has begun stakeholder engagement and sensitization campaigns at the national, state, and local government levels to ensure a smooth rollout of the exercise. State governments, local government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations, and faith-based organizations are being consulted to drive awareness and participation.
The Commission urged Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to enroll for the NIN to take advantage of the ward-to-ward exercise and register themselves as well as their children and family members within their communities.
Details of the ward enrollment schedules, including the rotational movement of licensed front-end partners and NIMC staff, are available on NIMIC official website
