The Federal Government has made the National Identification Number (NIN) mandatory for Nigerians to access all social services and government palliatives. The plan is to create a robust digital identity system for the country.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, announced the policy during the inauguration of an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project in Lagos.
Represented by Prof. Babatunde Bolaji, Akume informed that providing a digital identity for all Nigerians is a key priority for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
As chairman of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee (PESC) for the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Akume reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He noted that ongoing reforms under the ID4D initiative aim to strengthen NIMC’s capacity and improve identity management across the country.
Meanwhile, in a statement released by NIMC, Akume urged all government agencies to collaborate in building an inclusive national identity system. He stressed that a reliable digital identification framework is crucial for improving governance, security, and service delivery.
With the enforcement of NIN for social benefits, millions of Nigerians will now be required to update or obtain their national identity to access essential government support programs.
