The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has identified more than 6,000 Nigerians who are illegally registered in their databases with their National Identification Number (NIN). This revelation was a comprehensive update of the National Social Register by directives from President Bola Tinubu to support the federal government’s social investment program.
Punch reported that on February 4, 2025, Home Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo introduced the activities of the NIMC operating under its department to the Federal Executive Committee (FEC). The Minister confirmed that the NIN obtained by the illegal holder has been withdrawn as part of the ongoing database cleanup.
The issue of fraudulent NIN registration was announced in October 2022 that the defense headquarters had been arrested for forged NIMC officials. Major General Musa Danmadami, then director of defense media operations, revealed that the suspect visited the Gagamali IDP camp in the Niger Republic and registered non-Nigerian. Items recovered from the suspect include NIN registration machines, printing and laminators, generators and other equipment. Fake agents allegedly accused foreigners, mainly from neighboring countries, to obtain NIN, which is particularly rampant in border communities.
NIN is a unique 11-digit number associated with individual biometrics and demographics to verify the identity of government and private transactions. The presidency highlights the details of ensuring that the database accurately reflects the details of vulnerable Nigerians who are eligible for social interventions, such as student loans and cash transfers.
“It is the Minister of the Interior,” a source revealed. “The Interior Minister said that Nimes are sorting out the database because they found that more than 6,000 people from the Niger Republic have obtained NINs. But they have been erased from the database. ”
The briefing led President Tinubu to direct the National Security Advisor and the Minister of the Interior to join the inter-ministerial committee responsible for humanitarian ministry. The directive is consistent with Tinubu’s early efforts to reform the country’s social investment plan, including a moratorium on these initiatives for a comprehensive review in January 2024.
NIMC Director Bisoye Coker-Odusote reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency and accuracy in data management. “NIN makes sure people collect money is not a beneficiary of ghosts,” she said. “You have to use a verifiable record set to identify them. This saves a lot of money and ensures transparency.”
Coker-Odusote also clarified that recent issues related to Nin-SIM links are due to the end of the telecom company rather than the NIMC. She stressed the importance of NIN in verifying the identity of payments related to the National Social Register to ensure that funds are paid to the real beneficiaries.
Experts highlighted the risks posed by undocumented foreigners holding Nin, attributeing the problem to porous borders and lack of political will. Retired Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh said: “Where you are anywhere in some northern states, you will see many non-Nigerians moving freely without documents. Nigerians can do it in Chad or Cameroon. Is this? No! But I’m going to hand it over to the current leadership. There’s a lot to do, but progress is being made.”
