The Federal Government has announced that the full registration and integration of the National Identification Number into the National Social Register will be completed by March 2026.
This was disclosed by the National Programme Manager of the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Dr. Funmi Olotu, at the Stakeholder Engagement Conference on Advancing Social Protection through the NSR held in Lagos.
According to Olotu, the integration exercise, which began in April 2025, has recorded unprecedented progress. She explained that as of 31 August 2025, more than 7.6 million household records had been updated nationwide, with 9.5 million NINs reported. Out of this number, 8.3 million have been successfully validated by the National Identity Management Commission.
“By March 2026, we aim to achieve full verification and NIN integration for every household in the Register, closing the gaps, eliminating duplication, and ensuring that every naira spent delivers impact where it matters most,” Olotu stated.
She further described the development as a remarkable breakthrough, stressing that earlier attempts at integrating NINs into the Social Register had struggled to reach even 5 percent success.
“In just four months, we have now reached a significant milestone that demonstrates how far we have come in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection systems through technology and data,” she added.
Olotu assured participants that the National Social Register is no longer a static database but a “living instrument of hope,” designed to ensure that government support reaches households in need. She emphasized that the process will enhance social protection programs and improve transparency in poverty reduction efforts across the country.
Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting poverty reduction through the NSR. He said social protection remains a shared responsibility between the government and the private sector.
Drawing from his own experience in private enterprise and public service, Sule highlighted his tenure as Managing Director of African Petroleum Plc and later as Group Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company.
He noted how interventions from corporate leaders such as Tony Elumelu, and partnerships involving the Dangote Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, proved that collective action can play a vital role in tackling poverty nationwide.