Abuja: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced that it has successfully enrolled over 74 percent of inmates nationwide into the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database, countering media reports that suggested the contrary. This enrollment is part of an initiative aimed at integrating inmates into national development plans and enhancing their security.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, clarified on Sunday that the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise is actively underway in custodial centers across the country. He described reports claiming that the registration had yet to start as “misleading and inaccurate.”
The NIMC had granted the NCoS the license to conduct the registration at 256 custodial centers across Nigeria. This approval followed a request by the NCoS Controller General, Sylvester Nwakuche, and was sanctioned in January 2025. The initiative is designed to facilitate inmate identification, particularly in the event of jailbreaks, and to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Umar emphasized the progress made, noting that a significant number of inmates have been enrolled into the National Identity Database. “The exercise was actively ongoing across all facilities and has so far captured 59,786 inmates out of a total custodial population of 80,879 as of June 7, 2025,” he stated. This figure represents approximately 74 percent of the inmate population, achieved through collaboration between the NCoS and the NIMC.
Umar also highlighted that mechanisms are in place to ensure the seamless registration of the remaining inmates, reaffirming the service’s commitment to data integration as part of national efforts to enhance rehabilitation and digital inclusion for those in custody. He urged media members to verify their information with relevant authorities to prevent the spread of misinformation that could mislead the public and undermine ongoing institutional efforts.
