In a bid to deepen citizens’ access to the National Identification Number (NIN), the National Orientation Agency and the National Identity Management Commission have inaugurated a joint committee to spearhead public enlightenment and grassroots mobilisation for nationwide ward-level enrolment.

Delivering the inaugural address at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, the Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, praised NIMC for its vision and dedication to expanding identity inclusion, noting that the NIN is central to national planning, security, social protection, and financial inclusion.

Represented by the Director of Media and Communication, Mallam Bala Musa, the DG said the success of the ward-level enrolment initiative will depend not only on operational deployment but also on strategic engagement.

Describing the partnership as both timely and strategic, he said NOA’s wide coverage is anchored on collaborations with more than 200 radio stations, leading television networks, social media platforms, the AI chatbot CLHEEAN, and its workforce in 818 offices nationwide.

Issa-Onilu said the sensitisation messages would be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and easily accessible, particularly to underserved and rural communities, stressing that the agency would proactively anticipate and address possible misconceptions.

In response, the Team Lead and Director of Operations at NIMC, Mrs Uche Chigbo, disclosed that the Commission plans to extend the enrolment exercise from local government areas to ward levels, targeting 95 percent coverage nationwide by the end of the year.

Mrs Chigbo also announced that the Commission would commence the exercise on February 16, stressing that licensed partners would be engaged to help reach the targeted population.

She noted that the intensive phase of the exercise would last six weeks, with five days dedicated to each ward across the country, targeting individuals across all demographics.

The NOA's committee members present include: 

• Mallam Bala Musa, Director of Media and Communication 

• Mrs Adaline Waye, Director of Community Outreach and Development 

• Mrs Sherifat Adegbesan, Special Assistant to the DG on Intergovernmental Affairs

For NIMC, the members of the committee are:

• Mrs Uche Chignon, Director of Operations 

• James Bura Mamza, Deputy Director/Territorial Director of North Central

• Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications

• Amen Peter Odia, Head of Protocol 

• Ayodele Babalola, Technical Adviser to the DG NIMC