Nearly 60,000 inmates have been successfully registered for NIN as part of a groundbreaking digital identity push by Nigerian prison authorities.
NCoS dismissed media claims of stalled enrolment, confirming the initiative remains active in all correctional centers nationwide.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced a major breakthrough in its efforts to integrate inmates across the country into the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database. As of June 7, 2025, a total of 59,786 inmates out of the 80,879 currently held in correctional facilities have successfully been registered for the National Identity Number (NIN). This figure represents approximately 74 percent of the total inmate population nationwide.
The update was contained in a statement released on Sunday by the NCoS spokesperson, Deputy Comptroller of Corrections Umar Abubakar, who addressed public concerns and media reports alleging that the NIN enrolment initiative within prisons had stalled. According to him, such claims are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation.
Abubakar firmly dismissed the insinuations, explaining that the enrolment process remains very much ongoing and is being carried out through a collaborative partnership between the NCoS and the National Identity Management Commission. He said that both organizations have maintained consistent coordination to ensure the success of the program.
“Contrary to recent reports circulating in the media, the NIN registration exercise within custodial facilities has not been halted,” Abubakar clarified. “We have, in fact, made significant progress through strategic collaboration with NIMC officials deployed to our centers.”
He added that the NCoS is committed to enrolling all inmates and is steadily closing the gap. Efforts are currently focused on registering the remaining 26 percent, with systems in place to maintain the continuity of the process without interruption. He also reassured the public that there are adequate structures and personnel facilitating the exercise in all regions of the country.
“The process is ongoing in phases, and the remaining inmates will be registered accordingly. We have put mechanisms in place to ensure there are no delays or disruptions in the ongoing exercise,” he said.
The registration of inmates into the national identity system has been described as a critical step toward enhancing security and ensuring inclusive access to public services and social interventions. By enrolling inmates in the NIN database, the government is not only improving record-keeping and identification within correctional facilities but also laying the groundwork for their potential reintegration into society after serving their sentences.
Abubakar further emphasized that the initiative aligns with broader reforms being implemented within the Nigerian Correctional Service, particularly those geared toward modernization, transparency, and data-driven decision-making. He reiterated that the NCoS remains committed to upholding the rights of inmates while also enhancing institutional efficiency and accountability.
He called on the media and members of the public to verify information from credible sources before disseminating it, cautioning against the spread of misinformation that could undermine the efforts of key government institutions.
The ongoing registration project marks one of the most extensive efforts to digitally document incarcerated individuals in Nigeria’s history, and officials believe it will play a key role in national planning, criminal justice reform, and post-release rehabilitation initiatives.
