59,786 Out of 80,879 Prison Inmates Now Enrolled for NIN, Says NCoS

In a significant milestone for digital inclusion, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has successfully registered 74% of the country’s prison population for the National Identity Number (NIN). Here's what we discovered:

Key Figures

• Total Prison Population: 80,879 inmates
• Enrolled for NIN: 59,786 inmates
• Completion Rate: 74%
  All confirmed by NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, with verification from NIMC collaboration

 Ongoing Nationwide Campaign

• The NIN registration is being conducted at all custodial centers across Nigeria.
• NCoS asserts that the exercise is ongoing and has been executed smoothly across the board.
• NCoS emphasized that media reports claiming otherwise are misleading

Strategic Objectives

• Digital Inclusion: Integrating inmates into the national digital identity ecosystem.
• Reintegration Boost: Facilitates future reintegration and access to services post-release.
• Official Recognition: Many inmates previously lacked formal identification, complicating legal and administrative processes.

Official Statement

Deputy Comptroller Umar Abubakar stated:

“The registration… has recorded significant progress… The remaining inmates will be seamlessly enrolled.”

What This Means

• For Inmates: Access to banking, SIM registration, and formal recognition.
• For Society: Better management of prison records and support for reintegration efforts.
• For Authorities: A step toward reducing bureaucratic and identification challenges.

Remaining Work

• Registration is still underway for the remaining 24% (~21,093 inmates).
• NCoS has strategized to ensure full enrollment, reinforcing the commitment to nationwide coverage