Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has uncovered over 6,000 Niger Republic nationals registered in the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with National Identification Numbers (NINs). This discovery comes as President Bola Tinubu has directed an inter-ministerial committee to ensure accurate data for the National Social Register used in federal social investment programs.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo briefed the Federal Executive Council on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, regarding NIMC’s ongoing database clean-up, confirming that the NINs of these Niger nationals have been withdrawn.
This revelation follows a 2022 incident where suspected fake NIMC officials were apprehended for registering non-Nigerians, primarily from Niger, at an IDP camp. These individuals were reportedly charging for the fraudulent registration of Nigerian NINs, particularly in border communities.
The NIN, an 11-digit number linked to an individual’s biometric and demographic data, is crucial for various governmental and private transactions. President Tinubu has emphasized the need for accurate data in the social register to ensure that social interventions, such as conditional cash transfers and student loans, reach the most vulnerable Nigerians.
A presidential source stated that Minister Tunji-Ojo informed the FEC about NIMC’s efforts to refine the database, including the removal of the 6,000 Niger nationals’ registrations. The President has directed expedited efforts to verify data, register more Nigerians, and finalize the database.
Following the briefing, President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser and the Interior Minister to join the existing panel overseeing the Humanitarian Ministry. This aligns with previous actions, including the suspension of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the subsequent establishment of a Special Presidential Panel (SPP) led by Mr. Wale Edun to review and reform social investment programs. The President aims to eliminate institutional weaknesses and restore public confidence in these initiatives. All Social Investment Programmes, including the school feeding program, remain suspended pending the SPP’s review.
