Tinubu orders data verification as NIMC deletes over 6,000 fraudulent NINs

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has uncovered over 6,000 foreign nationals from Niger Republic who were registered in its database with National Identification Numbers (NINs).

This revelation follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive to an inter-ministerial committee to ensure the integrity of the National Social Register, which will be used for social investment programs like student loans and conditional cash transfers.

Presidency sources confirmed that Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on February 4, 2025, stating that the fraudulent NINs had been deleted as part of an ongoing database clean-up by NIMC.

Concerns over illegal NIN registrations date back to October 2022, when troops and security operatives arrested two fake NIMC officials attempting to register non-Nigerians at an IDP camp in Niger Republic. Recovered items included NIN registration kits, a printer, laminating machines, and tracking devices.

Investigations revealed that these fraudulent registrations were common in border communities, raising concerns about national security risks and unauthorized access to Nigerian identity credentials.

Sources confirmed that President Tinubu wants the National Social Register to accurately reflect the most vulnerable Nigerians in need of government support.

“The Interior Minister reported that over 6,000 Nigeriens had been illegally registered and have now been removed from the database,” a source said.

The President has now expanded the inter-ministerial panel, adding the National Security Adviser, Interior Minister, Education Minister, and Humanitarian Affairs Minister to ensure a credible and verifiable database for government aid programs.

NIMC Director-General Bisoye Coker-Odusote emphasized that linking NINs to social benefits will eliminate ghost beneficiaries and ensure transparency in government payments.

“This means that those receiving government assistance are real, identifiable individuals, preventing fraudulent claims and saving the country money,” she explained.

She further clarified that recent issues with NIN-SIM linkage stemmed from telecom companies, not NIMC, and have since been resolved.

Security experts warn that undocumented foreigners obtaining NINs is not a new issue and will persist without political will to address Nigeria’s porous borders.

Retired Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh stated, “Foreign nationals move freely in some northern states without documentation, something that would not be tolerated in Chad, Cameroon, or Niger Republic. Stronger action is needed.”

Despite ongoing efforts, experts agree that enhanced border security and strict identity verification remain crucial to protecting Nigeria’s national database and social programs.