President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to commence a nationwide free registration of National Identification Numbers (NIN) for all Nigerians from birth.
In Borno State, the exercise officially began at the Mafini area of Maiduguri, where children, adults, men, women and persons with disabilities were seen queuing to be enrolled.
Speaking on Monday at Masallacin Goni Zarami Ward in Mafini, the Borno State NIMC Coordinator, Kubili J. Mshelbwala, said the exercise was in line with a presidential directive to ensure that “every child, boy, girl, man or woman is registered and issued with NIM Number from today, Monday, 16th February, 2026.”
She explained that the registration would last for two months and cover all the 27 local government areas of the state. According to her, NIMC officials have been deployed to every ward to ensure seamless and widespread enrollment.
Mshelbwala commended the support of civil society organisations, community leaders and stakeholders, as well as the National Orientation Agency and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, for their role in mobilising residents and creating public awareness about the exercise.
She noted that the NIN would play a critical role in accessing essential services, including bank documentation, Independent National Electoral Commission registration, workplace and school records, email services, international passports and national identity cards.
The NIMC coordinator also expressed appreciation to key stakeholders who attended the event, including the Executive Director of the Borno Network of CSOs, Bulama Abiso, NOA officials led by Mala Abba Kyari, and NUJ Chairman, Abdulkareem Haruna, who led journalists to cover the ceremony.
Calling on residents to take advantage of the opportunity, Mshelbwala stressed that the registration and issuance of NIN were “free without any fine or fee or charges.” She urged all citizens to participate actively in the exercise.
Several stakeholders, who addressed the gathering in local dialects, encouraged parents, women, students and pupils to register daily throughout the 60-day exercise, which runs from February 16, 2026, in order to secure their national identity numbers.
