The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has announced that the National Identification Number (NIN) will now be required for Nigerians to access all social services and government palliatives.
Akume made this known while inaugurating an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project at Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. Represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, the SGF reiterated the administration’s commitment to providing a digital identity for all citizens.
As the Chairman of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee (PESC) for the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Akume emphasized the importance of supporting the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in its reform efforts. He urged government agencies to collaborate in building a robust and inclusive national identity system that would enhance governance and service delivery.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Sununu, commended the leadership of NIMC and the ID4D team for their efforts in expanding digital identification. He assured that his ministry would continue working with NIMC to ensure that NIN becomes a prerequisite for accessing social benefits, particularly for vulnerable groups across the country.
Speaking at the event, NIMC Director-General, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Ayobami Abiola, reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to fulfilling its mandate. She described the retreat as a platform for fostering collaboration and innovation, adding that sustained inter-agency efforts would accelerate the development of a more inclusive national identity system.
Nigeria has been working on building a comprehensive digital identity database, with over 115 million NINs issued as of October last year. Despite previous challenges, including funding constraints, international support, particularly from the World Bank’s ID4D initiative, has significantly boosted enrolment efforts. The government now seeks to fast-track the process to ensure that every Nigerian and legal resident has a verifiable digital identity.