The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has uncovered over 6,000 illegal registrations involving Nigerien nationals in its National Identification Number (NIN) database.
This revelation follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive update of the National Social Register to facilitate the Federal Government’s social investment initiatives.
According to a report by Punch, sources within the Presidency disclosed that on February 4, 2025, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on NIMC’s operations.
The minister confirmed that NINs fraudulently obtained by non-Nigerians had been revoked as part of an ongoing effort to cleanse the database.
The issue of fraudulent NIN registrations first gained national attention in October 2022 when the Defence Headquarters reported the arrest of individuals posing as NIMC officials.
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Major General Musa Danmadami, then Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed that these suspects had entered the Gagamari IDP camp in Niger Republic to illegally register foreigners.
Seized items included NIN registration devices, laminating and printing machines, a generator, and other tools used in the fraudulent operation.
It was alleged that these fake agents charged foreigners, primarily from neighboring countries, to obtain NINs.
This illegal practice was particularly prevalent in border communities, raising concerns about national security and the integrity of Nigeria’s identity database.
The NIN is a unique 11-digit identifier linked to an individual’s biometric and demographic data, essential for both government and private sector transactions.
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The Federal Government has underscored the importance of maintaining an accurate database to ensure that only eligible Nigerians benefit from social interventions, including student loans and cash transfer programs.
A Presidency source confirmed the interior minister’s statement: “The interior minister said NIMC is tidying up the database because they found over 6,000 people from Niger Republic who obtained NIN. But they have been wiped from the database.”
Following this briefing, President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Interior to join an inter-ministerial committee overseeing the humanitarian ministry.
This decision aligns with his broader efforts to reform social investment programs, which were suspended in January 2024 for a comprehensive review.
NIMC Director-General Bisoye Coker-Odusote reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to data integrity and transparency.
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“The NIN ensures that people collecting money are not ghost beneficiaries,” she stated. “You have to use a verifiable set of records to identify them. This saves the country a lot of money and ensures transparency.”
Addressing concerns about NIN-SIM linkage challenges, Coker-Odusote clarified that recent disruptions were due to technical issues from telecom service providers rather than NIMC.
She emphasized the critical role of the NIN in verifying identities for social program payments, ensuring that funds reach legitimate recipients.
Experts have long warned of the security risks posed by undocumented foreigners obtaining Nigerian identification credentials.
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Many attribute this issue to porous borders and a lack of stringent political measures. Retired Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh expressed his concerns.
“Everywhere you go in some northern states, you see many non-Nigerians moving freely without documentation. Can Nigerians do that in Chad or Cameroon? No! But I will give it to the current leadership. There is so much to be done, but progress is being made.”
The revelation by NIMC has reignited discussions on border security and identity verification measures. Analysts urge the government to bolster border enforcement and impose stricter regulations on NIN registration processes to prevent future fraudulent enrollments.
