The number of Nigerians in the diaspora registering for the National Identification Number (NIN) has skyrocketed by 307.88%, rising from 366,164 in 2023 to 1.49 million in 2025.
This sharp increase follows efforts by the Federal Government to simplify the enrolment process and enhance accessibility.
New data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) shows that 930,044 males and 563,469 females have now been registered. Overall, NIN enrolments—both within and outside Nigeria—have grown by 21.24%, reaching 117 million from 96.5 million within the same period.
The surge is attributed to recent government initiatives, including the launch of a dedicated mobile app and a diaspora focal point desk in 2024, which ensures registration issues are resolved within 24 hours.
Additionally, new contactless enrolment software is being deployed to further streamline the process.
Diaspora NIN registration was first introduced in 2019, making it a requirement for passport renewals and other official transactions.
Since then, enrolment centers have expanded to 77 countries, with 40 in Africa, 23 in Europe/Oceania, nine in Asia/Middle East, and five in the Americas.
The NIN project has been supported by a $228.59 million investment from a $430 million funding package backed by the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the European Investment Bank.
The World Bank has emphasized that strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity system will not only benefit its citizens but also open up new economic opportunities and contribute to the nation’s growing digital economy.
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