By Mariam Sanni
President Bola Tinubu has announced that over 126 million Nigerians had been enrolled in the National Identity Database.
The president spoke in Abuja at the National Day of Identity, organised by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, the president also lauded the commission for clearing over 2.5 million backlog records.
Tinubu expressed delight that the mobile and web self-service applications had processed more than half a million record updates and deployed over 800 mobile enrolment devices nationwide alongside new territorial offices for better oversight.
Reflecting on the theme of the event, ‘Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure,’ the president noted that a robust identity system is central to building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.
He said the integration of a secure identity management with digital public services will not only enhance financial inclusion and social protection programmes, but also strengthen national security and governance.
He commended NIMC for its innovations and urged it to sustain momentum in ensuring that every Nigerian is captured in the database.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to strengthening digital infrastructure and identity management as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Behind this number are workers who can now claim their pensions without fear of fraud.
“There are students who can now access loans and scholarships with ease. There are farmers who receive targeted incentives that boost productivity and strengthen food security.
“There are displaced persons and vulnerable groups who now have proof of identity that enables them benefit from humanitarian support. This is the true power of identity and this is the progress we celebrate.
“Importantly, this expansion has reached beyond our borders. More than 200 diaspora centres now serve Nigerians abroad, while dedicated enrolment exercises have registered refugees, internally displaced persons and inmates of correctional facilities.
“In addition, a disability inclusion policy has been rolled out, training more than 5,000 enrolment agents to better serve persons with disabilities. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to leave no one behind.
“To sustain this growth, the commission has upgraded its system. The national database has been expanded from a capacity of 100 million records to 250 million, ensuring that no Nigerian will be excluded as enrolment continues.
“More than 1,500 enrolment devices are in operation across the country, complemented by over 200 centres established in the diaspora to serve Nigerians abroad.
“These achievements underscore the seriousness with which we are pursuing universal coverage.
“In addition, NIMC has harmonised and integrated 125 partner agencies, creating a unified ecosystem that reduces duplication, saves costs and improves service delivery.
“This includes integration with the Immigration Service for passport issuance, Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax records, National Population Commission for birth registration, National Health Insurance Authority for healthcare enrolment, and UBEC for school records. Working with the NCC, NIMC has enforced the NIN-SIM linkage, which has significantly reduced fraud and enhanced national security.
“Operational excellence has also been prioritised.
“The commission has invested in the training of its staff, provision of modern work tools, creation of a world-class customer care center and an ultra-modern audiovisual studio for public engagement.
“Staff welfare has been improved with the approval and implementation of salary adjustments, promotions for over 2,800 personnel and the construction and rehabilitation of enrolment centers nationwide.
“At the same time, clampdowns on extortion and phishing sites have safeguarded citizens and protected the integrity of the system. Working with the police and security agencies, NIMC has arrested over 30 fraudulent operators, shut down illegal centres and maintained ISO 27001:2022 certification, a global benchmark for data security. The launch of the High Availability Verification Service now ensures 99.9 percent uptime for identity verification,” he said.
He highlighted the benefits of the National Identity Number, NIN, to include seamless access to government services, improved financial inclusion, enhanced national planning and strengthened security architecture.
According to him, the NIN has become a vital tool for streamlining social intervention programmes, eliminating ghost beneficiaries and ensuring that subsidies and welfare reach the right people.
He added that it also facilitates access to banking, telecommunications, healthcare and education services, while boosting citizens’ participation in the digital economy.
