President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said the linkage of the National Identification Number with SIM cards has drastically reduced fraud and improved national security.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, spoke at the 2025 National Day of Identity organised by the National Identity Management Commission in Abuja.
“Working with the NCC, NIMC has enforced the NIN-SIM linkage, which has significantly reduced fraud and enhanced national security,” he said.
The President noted that identity is now more than a record, describing it as the foundation of citizenship, the gateway to opportunity, and the anchor for national security.
He added that the National Identification Number, supported by Public Key Infrastructure, has become central to Nigeria’s digital transformation, making transactions more secure and building citizens’ trust in government and private institutions.
“Without PKI, digital interactions remain vulnerable. Without PKI, citizens cannot fully trust that their data and transactions are secure. But with PKI, 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,” Tinubu said.
Commending the leadership of NIMC under Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Tinubu said the commission had enrolled over 126 million Nigerians, cleared a backlog of 2.5 million records, deployed over 800 mobile enrolment devices nationwide, and integrated with 125 partner agencies, including the Immigration Service, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the National Population Commission.
The president also noted that the commission has boosted efficiency by training staff, providing modern tools, setting up a world-class customer care centre and an audiovisual studio, while also improving welfare through salary adjustments, promotions for over 2,800 personnel, and rehabilitating enrolment centres nationwide.
He also said that the commission has clamped down on fraud with the arrest of over 30 operators, closure of illegal centres, maintenance of ISO 27001:2022 certification, and the launch of a verification service that guarantees 99.9 per cent uptime.
According to him, the NIN has already become indispensable for services such as pension verification, educational loans, business registration, healthcare, tax records, elections, and social investment programmes. He said the number was not just an administrative tool but “the common key that unlocks opportunity, strengthens governance, and builds trust.”
While noting the progress made, Tinubu stressed that his administration was determined to enforce the Mandatory Use Regulation for NIN across all sectors, insisting that the policy was vital for securing the nation, strengthening the economy, and ensuring digital inclusion.
In his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria is advancing steadily in building a secure identity system, describing digital identity infrastructure as essential to national security and economic sovereignty.
Tunji-Ojo said government agencies are working to integrate Public Key Infrastructure into Nigeria’s identity ecosystem.
The minister added that the Ministry of Interior would continue to modernise its services, expand secure enrolment, and ensure that identity-driven services are delivered with “dignity, protection and predictability.”
He noted that current investments in PKI and data centres would enable Nigeria to participate securely in global digital commerce and diaspora engagement.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated that identity must be treated as strategic infrastructure, adding that the newly established Bola Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex will support biometric production and secure border and passport systems.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the National Identification Number had become a transformative tool for inclusion, economic empowerment, and national development.
She revealed that over 123 million Nigerians have been enrolled in the national identity database, noting that the Commission has partnered with more than 50 organisations across sectors, including education, healthcare, correctional services, and diaspora outreach, to deepen integration and widen access.
Coker-Odusote said the use of PKI had greatly enhanced the privacy, security, and usability of citizens’ data.
She added that enrolment waiting times had been cut nearly in half, with identity services now extended to inmates, internally displaced persons, and Nigerians living abroad.
According to her, digital identity is already transforming lives, citing examples such as over 449,000 students accessing loans worth N86.35bn through NELFUND and verified farmers receiving subsidised agricultural support.
She also addressed concerns over data security, stating that despite attempts, NIMC’s database remains uncompromised.
“By documenting each citizen and resident, we are not only ensuring precise identity verification but also enabling better planning for security, disaster response, and economic strategies. With this integrated system, tracking perpetrators of crimes becomes significantly easier, helping law enforcement agencies respond more effectively to threats, both natural and man-made,” she added.
