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…over 125 agencies integrated into NIN
…Says linkage has reduced fraud, improved national security
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that over 126 million citizens have now been enrolled in the National Identity Database, describing the National Identification Number (NIN), secured by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), as the bedrock of the country’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the 2025 National Day of Identity in Abuja on Tuesday, the President, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the figure represents millions of citizens who can now access social safety nets, pension benefits, student loans and targeted agricultural support without fear of fraud or exclusion.
He explained that the database has been scaled from 100 million to 250 million records capacity, while the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has cleared 2.5 million backlog records, processed over 500,000 self-service updates, and deployed more than 800 mobile enrollment devices nationwide.
In addition, over 125 agencies have now been integrated into the NIN ecosystem, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, National Population Commission and National Health Insurance Authority.
Tinubu stressed that PKI provides the trust backbone for digital public infrastructure by securing identities and reducing fraud in transactions.
According to him, “WithPKI, Nigeria can build an ecosystem where trust is guaranteed, fraud is reduced, services are streamlined, and every
citizen can engage with government and private institutions with confidence,”
The president further commended NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for repositioning the Commission and improving staff welfare with 2,800 promotions and salary adjustments, alongside securing global ISO 27001:2022 certification that guarantees the security of citizens’ data.
In her remarks, Coker-Odusote, said September 16 provides a moment to reflect on the global struggle to secure legal identity, especially under Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which targets universal birth registration and access to identification.
She lamented that no African country ranks among the top 20 nations in legal identity compliance, with the bottom 20 exclusively from Africa, but noted that Nigeria has emerged as a pacesetter since adopting Identity Day in 2019.
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The DG explained that NIMC’s reforms are anchored on three pillars of inclusion, protection and empowerment with PKI at the core.
She said over 123 million Nigerians are now enrolled, representing a 49 per cent cut in waiting times due to new technology and collaborations. The Commission, she noted, has also enrolled 75 per cent of inmates, improved diaspora registration by 52 per cent, and integrated NIN with birth registration through the Ministry of Health.
However, she pointed out that challenges remain as only 60 per cent of under-5 children are captured, while the female-to-male ratio in registration still reflects sociocultural gaps.
Coker-Odusote dismissed claims of a breached database, insisting there has been no compromise of Nigerians’ data. She explained that identity theft and fraud attempts have been countered by partnerships with the Police National Cybercrime Centre, telecom operators and banks, while new self-service platforms give Nigerians more control in securing their information.
“Through PKI, we are not just issuing numbers. We are protecting identities, empowering citizens, and ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind,” the NIMC boss declared.
Also speaking, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the government was leveraging the NIN to check crime, address insecurity and drive effective service delivery.
Tunji-Ojo noted that digital identity had become a vital tool for national planning and decision making, noting that no country can achieve sustainable growth without a reliable database of its citizens.
He stressed that every Nigerian must be uniquely identified, adding that the system would enhance transparency in government processes.
Tunji-Ojo maintained that the NIN would not only promote security and accountability but also unlock opportunities in the economy, especially in financial inclusion, innovation and investment attraction.
On his part, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, pledged legislative support for stronger data privacy, cybercrime prevention and inclusiveness.
Represented by represented by Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Victor Umeh, he said: “Without secure and verifiable identity, no state can govern with purpose, no business can innovate with confidence, and no citizen can partake fully in the promise of nationhood.Identity is not an accessory of governance, it is its backbone. It must be identified to be able to build the government and the society.”
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