FG Cracks Down on Illegal NIN Registrations, Deletes 6,000 Fraudulent Entries Linked to Nigerien Nationals
The Federal Government has uncovered over 6,000 illegal National Identification Numbers (NIN) registered by Nigerien nationals in Nigeria’s database.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered an inter-ministerial committee to ensure a comprehensive and credible National Social Register, which will guide the government’s social investment programs.
6,000 Illegal NINs Discovered, Deleted
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while briefing the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, confirmed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) had removed the illegally obtained National Identification Numbers as part of an ongoing database cleanup.
The discovery follows past concerns about fraudulent registrations in border communities, where non-Nigerians were allegedly acquiring National Identification Numbers for unlawful access to national benefits.
Fake NIMC Officials Caught in 2022
This is not the first time such fraud has been uncovered. On October 13, 2022, the Defence Headquarters revealed that security forces had arrested two fake NIMC officials who were illegally registering non-Nigerians at the Gagamari IDP camp in Niger Republic.
Authorities seized several items from the suspects, including a National Identification Number registration machine, a printing device, a laminating machine, and a generator set. Investigations revealed that the fraudsters charged non-Nigerians, mainly from neighboring countries, to obtain Nigerian identity credentials.
FG Aims for a Credible National Database
A Presidency source confirmed that President Tinubu is determined to ensure that only eligible Nigerians, especially vulnerable citizens in need of government support, are included in the database.
“NIMC is cleaning up the database because they found over 6,000 people from Niger Republic who obtained National Identification Number. But they have been wiped from the system,”
the source stated.
The National Identification Number is an 11-digit unique identity assigned to citizens and legal residents, linking their biometric and demographic details for official verification.
With the latest crackdown, the government aims to safeguard Nigeria’s identity system and prevent unauthorized access to national resources.
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