The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced on Sunday that it has successfully enrolled over 74% of inmates nationwide into the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database, countering recent media reports that suggested otherwise.
In a statement released by the Service Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, the NCoS criticized as "misleading and inaccurate" claims that the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise had yet to begin in custodial centers across the country.
The initiative, approved in January 2025, aims to integrate inmates into national development plans and enhance their security by facilitating identification in case of jailbreaks.
The NIMC had authorized the NCoS to conduct the registration across 256 custodial centers nationwide following a request by NCoS Controller General Sylvester Nwakuche.
Umar highlighted that the registration, which actively continues across all facilities, has already captured 59,786 inmates out of a total custodial population of 80,879 as of Friday, 7 June 2025.
This represents approximately 74% of the inmate population now integrated into the NIMC platform.
He emphasized that concrete 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 towards the rehabilitation, reintegration, and digital inclusion of persons in custody.
Umar also called on the media to verify information with relevant authorities to avoid spreading misinformation that could mislead the public and undermine ongoing institutional efforts.
