President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that more than 126 million Nigerians are now captured in the National Identity Database with their National Identity Numbers (NIN), describing it as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s digital identity journey.

 

Speaking on Tuesday, September 16, at the 7th National Day of Identity held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, praised the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its strides in strengthening the country’s identity system.

 

He highlighted that the Commission has cleared over 2.5 million backlog records in the past two years and facilitated the arrest of more than 30 fraudulent operators who had set up illegal registration centres.

 

The President commended the rollout of NIMC’s mobile and web self-service applications, which have processed over 500,000 record updates, alongside the deployment of over 800 mobile enrolment devices nationwide and the opening of new territorial offices for enhanced oversight.

 

Reflecting on the event’s theme, “Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure,” Tinubu underscored that a secure national identity system is vital to building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

 

“Behind this number are workers who can now claim pensions without fear of fraud; students who can access loans and scholarships; farmers who receive targeted incentives; and displaced persons and vulnerable groups who now have proof of identity to access humanitarian support. This is the true power of identity, and this is the progress we celebrate,” Tinubu said.

 

Tinubu revealed that NIMC’s enrolment has extended beyond Nigeria’s borders, with over 200 diaspora centres serving Nigerians abroad. Refugees, internally displaced persons, and inmates of correctional facilities have also been registered. A disability inclusion policy has trained over 5,000 enrolment agents to better serve persons with disabilities.

 

He further disclosed that the national database capacity has been expanded from 100 million to 250 million records, supported by over 1,500 enrolment devices nationwide.

 

According to the President, 125 government agencies have now been harmonised with NIMC, reducing duplication and improving efficiency. Key partnerships include the Immigration Service for passport issuance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax records, the National Population Commission for birth registration, the National Health Insurance Authority for healthcare enrolment, and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for school records.

 

He noted that the NIN-SIM linkage enforced in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has helped curb fraud and boost national security.

 

Tinubu also highlighted the Commission’s internal reforms, including staff training, modern work tools, and a world-class customer care centre, as well as salary adjustments and promotions for over 2,800 staff members.

 

The President assured Nigerians of the integrity and security of the NIMC database, pointing to the Commission’s ISO 27001:2022 certification, a global benchmark for data security. He announced the launch of a High Availability Verification Service, guaranteeing 99.9% uptime for identity verification.

 

The Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed that 52% of Nigerians in the diaspora and 85% of inmates in correctional facilities have been enrolled. She said upgraded infrastructure has reduced enrolment time by 49% and eliminated extortion, dismissing rumours of database breaches and affirming that NIMC operates one of the most secure systems in the country.

 

Tinubu concluded that the NIN initiative continues to enable seamless access to government services, improve financial inclusion, strengthen national planning, and ensure that subsidies and social interventions reach their intended beneficiaries, thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s overall security and governance architecture.