The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has identified over 6,000 individuals from Niger Republic who illegally obtained the National Identification Number (NIN) in Nigeria.
This discovery was revealed during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on February 4, 2025, where Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, briefed President Bola Tinubu on ongoing efforts to clean up the NIMC database.
Database Cleanup & Security Concerns
The NIMC, which oversees national identity registration, confirmed that these fraudulently registered NINs have been withdrawn as part of an extensive data verification exercise.
đź”´ Previous Cases of Fake Registrations
- In 2022, two fake NIMC officials were arrested for attempting to register non-Nigerians in an IDP camp in Niger Republic.
- These agents used illegal registration machines and were reportedly charging foreigners for fake NINs.
Impact on National Security & Social Welfare Programs
President Tinubu has directed a comprehensive data validation process to ensure the National Social Register accurately reflects genuine Nigerian beneficiaries of social programs such as:
âś… Conditional Cash Transfers
âś… Student Loans
âś… Subsidy Payments
🔹 Why This Matters:
- The NIN serves as a critical verification tool for government services, preventing fraud and ensuring only eligible Nigerians receive aid.
- The infiltration of non-Nigerians into the system threatens national security, particularly in border regions where illegal registrations have occurred.
Presidential Panel Overseeing NIMC’s Cleanup
To oversee transparent and verifiable disbursement of funds, President Tinubu has expanded an inter-ministerial committee, adding:
- National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu
- Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
- Education Minister, Tunji Alausa
- Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda
How NIMC Plans to Fix the System
âś… Mandatory NIN Verification: All government aid recipients must now verify their identity with NIN before receiving payments.
âś… Cross-Checking National Social Register: To eliminate ghost beneficiaries and prevent fraudulent claims.
âś… Strengthening Border Registration Controls: Ensuring only Nigerian citizens are enrolled.
Security Experts Weigh In
🔸 Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh (retd.) highlighted the porosity of Nigeria’s borders, stating:
➡️ “Many undocumented foreigners roam freely in northern states without valid papers.”
➡️ “Can a Nigerian walk into Niger Republic or Cameroon without proper identification? No!”
➡️ "Stronger political will is needed to curb this issue."
What’s Next?
With the clean-up of the NIMC database underway, the government is expected to:
- Strengthen data verification systems to prevent future fraudulent NIN registrations.
- Increase security oversight in border communities.
- Ensure transparency in all social intervention programs.
This move is seen as a major step towards securing Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure and ensuring government resources reach the right people. 🚀
