By 
By Osasómé C.O
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that a harmonised national identity system is central to Nigeria’s security, digital economy, and socio-economic development.
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NIN as a Tool for Governance and Security
Speaking at the 2025 National Day of Identity in Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the National Identification Number (NIN) has become indispensable for governance, service delivery, and economic growth.
He highlighted the success of the NIN-SIM linkage implemented by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“The NIN-SIM linkage has significantly reduced fraud and enhanced national security,” Tinubu noted.
Digital Trust Through Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
The President stressed that the National Identification Number supported by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is now the foundation of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“Without PKI, citizens cannot fully trust that their data and transactions are secure. With PKI, Nigeria can build an ecosystem where fraud is reduced, services are streamlined, and citizens can engage confidently with institutions,” he said.
NIMC Achievements Under New Leadership
Tinubu commended Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of NIMC, for her leadership in expanding identity coverage nationwide.
Key achievements include:
- Over 126 million Nigerians enrolled in the NIN database.
- Clearance of 2.5 million record backlogs.
- Deployment of 800+ mobile enrolment devices across the country.
- Integration with 125 partner agencies, including Immigration Service, FIRS, and NPC.
NIN: Gateway to Opportunities and Services
Tinubu said the NIN has become central to several critical services, including:
- Pension verification
- Educational loans
- Business registration
- Healthcare access
- Tax records
- Elections
- Social investment programmes
Describing NIN as “the common key that unlocks opportunity, strengthens governance, and builds trust,” Tinubu emphasized its role in improving policy implementation, financial inclusion, and citizen empowerment.
Data Harmonisation Challenges
The President acknowledged that data harmonisation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remains a challenge.
Since 2018, an Inter-Ministerial Committee has worked on integrating fragmented identity databases into the National Identity Database (NIDB) to end duplication. However, achieving full harmonisation remains a national priority.
