By Emmanuel Kwada
In a shocking discovery, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has found over 6,000 Niger Republic nationals registered in its database with the National Identification Number (NIN).
This revelation comes as President Bola Tinubu directs an inter-ministerial committee to ensure comprehensive data for the National Social Register, which is used for the Federal Government’s social investment programs. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, briefed the Federal Executive Council on the activities of NIMC, confirming that the NINs were withdrawn from the illegal holders in an ongoing database clean-up.
The fake registrations were reportedly carried out by corrupt agents who charged non-Nigerian citizens, primarily from neighboring countries such as Niger Republic, to obtain Nigerian NIN. Investigations revealed that these fraudulent registrations occurred in border communities, heightening the risk of unauthorized access to Nigerian identity credentials.
Fake registrations were reportedly carried out by corrupt agents who charged non-Nigerian citizens, primarily from neighboring countries such as Niger Republic, to obtain Nigerian NIN
The NIMC is working to tidy up the database, ensuring that only legitimate Nigerian citizens benefit from government welfare programs.
President Tinubu wants the existing database to reflect the details of the most vulnerable Nigerians who need social interventions, such as conditional cash transfers and student loans. The President has asked the national security adviser and the interior minister to join an existing panel overseeing the humanitarian ministry, which needs the data for its social register to perform its function. The education ministry also requires the data for student loans, and the President is keen to ensure that funds are not disbursed to people who cannot be identified.
The discovery of this massive NIN fraud has sparked concerns about security risks and unauthorized access to Nigerian identity credentials. The government is taking steps to strengthen national security and ensure that social investment programs serve only legitimate Nigerian citizens.
