Tinubu: NIN-SIM integration curbs fraud, strengthens national security
Tinubu: NIN-SIM integration curbs fraud, strengthens national security
Abuja—President Bola Tinubu has said the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards has significantly curtailed fraud and strengthened national security.
Speaking at the 2025 National Day of Identity organised by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, explained that collaboration between NIMC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had made the NIN-SIM linkage effective in tackling fraud and improving security.
He stressed that identity now goes beyond being just a record, describing it as the foundation of citizenship, a gateway to opportunity, and a pillar of national security.
According to him, the NIN, reinforced by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), is central to Nigeria’s digital transformation, enabling secure transactions and fostering citizens’ trust in both government and private institutions.
“Without PKI, digital interactions remain at risk, and citizens cannot fully trust the safety of their data and transactions. With PKI, however, Nigeria can build a trusted ecosystem where fraud is reduced, services are streamlined, and citizens confidently engage with both government and private organisations,” Tinubu stated.
Commending NIMC’s leadership under Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the President highlighted achievements such as enrolling over 126 million Nigerians, clearing a backlog of 2.5 million records, deploying more than 800 mobile enrolment devices nationwide, and integrating with 125 partner agencies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Population Commission (NPC).
He also said the commission had boosted efficiency by training staff, providing modern tools, setting up a world-class customer care centre and an audiovisual studio, while also improving welfare through salary adjustments, promotions for over 2,800 personnel, and rehabilitating enrolment centres nationwide.
Tinubu said the commission had clamped down on fraud, with the arrest of over 30 operators, closure of illegal centres, maintenance of ISO 27001:2022 certification, and the launch of a verification service that guarantees 99.9 per cent uptime.
According to him, NIN has already become indispensable for services such as pension verification, educational loans, business registration, healthcare, tax records, elections, and social investment programmes.
While noting the progress made, Tinubu stressed that his administration was determined to enforce the Mandatory Use Regulation for NIN across all sectors, insisting that the policy was vital for securing the nation, strengthening the economy, and ensuring digital inclusion.
In his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria was advancing steadily in building a secure identity system, describing digital identity infrastructure as essential to national security and economic sovereignty.
Tunji-Ojo said government agencies were working to integrate Public Key Infrastructure into Nigeria’s identity ecosystem, adding that his ministry would continue to modernise its services, expand secure enrolment, and ensure that identity-driven services were delivered with “dignity, protection and predictability.”
He noted that current investments in PKI and data centres would enable Nigeria participate securely in global digital commerce and diaspora engagement.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the National Identification Number had become a transformative tool for inclusion, economic empowerment and national development.
She revealed that over 123 million Nigerians had been enrolled in the national identity database, noting that the commission had partnered more than 50 organisations across sectors, including education, healthcare, correctional services, and diaspora outreach, to deepen integration and widen access.
Coker-Odusote said the use of PKI had greatly enhanced the privacy, security, and usability of citizens’ data, adding that enrolment waiting times had been cut nearly in half, with identity services now extended to inmates, internally displaced persons, and Nigerians living abroad.
She noted that digital identity is already transforming lives, pointing to examples such as over 449,000 students securing loans worth ₦86.35 billion through NELFUND and verified farmers gaining access to subsidised agricultural support.
Addressing concerns about data security, she assured that despite several attempts, NIMC’s database has remained secure and uncompromised.
“By capturing the identity of every citizen and resident, we are not only ensuring accurate verification but also strengthening national planning for security, disaster response, and economic development,” she said.
“With this integrated system, tracking criminals becomes much easier, enabling law enforcement agencies to respond more swiftly and effectively to both natural and human-made threats,” she added.
