The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has identified and removed over 6,000 Nigeriens illegally registered with Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN).
This comes as President Bola Tinubu directed an inter-ministerial committee to verify and clean up national data, ensuring accuracy for social investment programs like student loans and cash transfers.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who oversees NIMC, informed the Federal Executive Council that the agency was conducting a database cleanup. “We found over 6,000 non-Nigerians with NINs, and they have been wiped from the database,” a source revealed.
Security agencies had previously arrested fake NIMC agents who registered foreigners in border communities. The fraudulent activity raised concerns over unauthorized access to Nigerian identity credentials.
NIMC Director-General Bisoye Coker-Odusote emphasized the importance of linking NINs to social welfare beneficiaries to eliminate ghost recipients. “Verifiable records will ensure only real Nigerians receive government aid,” she said.
President Tinubu has expanded the special panel overseeing the National Social Register to include the National Security Adviser and key ministers, aiming for transparency and accountability in government disbursements.
