The Federal Government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has announced the discovery of over 6,000 nationals from the Niger Republic who were registered in its database with the National Identification Number (NIN).
This followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to an inter-ministerial committee to establish a comprehensive database for the National Social Register, aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s social investment programs.
A source told newsmen that on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior had briefed the Federal Executive Council on the activities of NIMC, the agency under his supervision.
Tunji-Ojo reportedly confirmed that the NINs had been revoked from unauthorized holders as part of an ongoing database clean-up.
Meanwhile, on October 13, 2022, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja announced that troops, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Immigration Service, apprehended two suspected fraudulent NIMC officials.
Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, Director of Defence Media Operations at the time, stated that investigations revealed the suspects had travelled to the Gagamari IDP camp in the Niger Republic to register non-Nigerians.
Recovered items from the suspects included a National Identification Number registration machine, a printing machine, a laminating machine, a computer tracking device, a generator set, and other equipment.
The fraudulent agents were allegedly charging non-Nigerian citizens, mainly from neighbouring countries like the Niger Republic, to obtain Nigerian National Identification Numbers (NIN).
Investigations uncovered that these illegal registrations were taking place in border communities, increasing the risk of unauthorized access to Nigerian identity credentials.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is responsible for enrolling citizens and legal residents, and issuing them a unique NIN.
The 11-digit number is linked to an individual’s biometric and demographic data, serving as a centralized system for verifying personal identity in both governmental and private transactions.
Presidency sources told newsmen that President Tinubu sought to update the existing database to include details of the most vulnerable Nigerians in need of social interventions, such as conditional cash transfers and student loans.
The source said Interior Minister stated that NIMC is refining the database after discovering that over 6,000 individuals from Niger Republic had obtained NINs, which have now been removed.
He explained that the Humanitarian Ministry requires the data for its social register to carry out its functions, while the Education Ministry needs it for student loans. According to him, the President insists that funds should not be disbursed to unverified individuals. As a result, NIMC is working to verify the data, register more Nigerians, and fine-tune the system.
The President has emphasized the need for a swift completion of this process.
A source also revealed that President Tinubu had directed Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior to join an existing panel overseeing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and its programmes.
This development follows Tinubu’s earlier decision on January 7, 2024, to suspend Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, At the time, he established a panel led by Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to review the financial framework of social investment programmes, address institutional weaknesses, and restore public confidence.
On January 12, the President halted all National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) initiatives, including the school feeding programme, for six weeks. The following day, he approved the formation of a Special Presidential Panel (SPP) led by Edun.
The SPP initially comprised Edun as Chairman, alongside the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris; Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani; and Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande.
With the latest expansion, the panel now includes Ribadu, Tunji-Ojo, Tunji Alausa, Education Minister and Nentawe Yilwatda the newly appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
A source at Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting confirmed that the President directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Minister of Interior to join the inter-ministerial committee overseeing the humanitarian ministry. The source added, “The National Security Adviser is also part of the committee. The Interior Minister’s inclusion is significant because the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) falls under his purview.”
Providing further insight, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of NIMC, emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accuracy in government payments, particularly in the humanitarian sector.
Coker-Odusote told newsmen that there is a presidential panel for the humanitarian ministry. When the former minister was suspended, an interim panel was set up. The Minister of Interior and others have now been added to that panel to integrate the National Identification Number (NIN) into the payment process, ensuring greater accuracy and transparency in disbursements.”
According to Coker-Odusote, “The integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the payment system for social investment programs will help eliminate ghost beneficiaries and ensure that only verified individuals receive government funds’.
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