By Motunrayo

Copyright nigerianeye

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why his
administration is committed to enforcing the mandatory National Identity Use
Regulation in Nigeria.

President Tinubu said NIN must become the key to unlock
every services, opportunities and platforms in both public and private
establishments in Nigeria.

Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the
Federation George Akume, disclosed this at this year’s National Identity Day
event organised by the National Identity Management Commission in Abuja on

Speaking on the theme, ‘Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone
To Digital Infrastructure’, Tinubu said the government will ensure that all
entities in Nigeria are harmonised into the National Identity Database.

According to him, over 126 million Nigerians and residents
have been enrolled into the NIN database.

He maintained that the NIN is requisite for securing Nigeria
and strengthening the economy.

“The National Identification Number must become the key that
unlocks every service, every opportunity, and every

platform in both the public and private sectors. That is why
my administration remains fully committed to enforcing the Mandatory Use
Regulation for the NIN.

“This commitment is not just about compliance. It is about
securing our nation, strengthening our economy, and ensuring that every
Nigerian can participate fully in the digital era,” he stated.

He added that NIMC has harmonised and integrated 125 partner
agencies, creating a unified ecosystem that reduces duplication, saves costs,
and improves service delivery.

“Working with the police and security agencies, NIMC has
arrested over 30 fraudulent operators, shut down illegal centres, and maintained
ISO 27001:2022 certification, a global benchmark for data security,” the
president stated.

On his part, the Minister of Interior said Nigeria is making
progress on national identity.

“Nigeria is already moving deliberately in this direction.
The National Information Technology Development Agency and the NIMC are working
to integrate public key infrastructure into our national identity and service

“This is an essential step for secure e-government, trusted
digital signatures and machine-to-machine authentication across regulatory,
revenue and border systems. This collaboration is both timely and strategic; it
will make digital government services verifiable and auditable at scale.

“Finally, as Minister of Interior, I commit my ministry to the
steady work of integration. We will continue to modernise our services, expand
secure enrolment and verification across government, and ensure that
identity-driven services are delivered with dignity, protection and
predictability. The investments we make today in PKI, data centres and secure
enrolment will be the collateral for Nigeria’s digital economy tomorrow. They
will enable secure cross-border commerce, diaspora engagement and global trust
in Nigerian credentials,” he stated.

Also, in her speech, the Director of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye
Coker-Odusote, emphasised that NIN is not just a number but a gateway to
opportunity, security and dignity for Nigerians.

“As we reflect on the remarkable progress we have achieved
in Inclusion, Protection, and Empowerment, it is clear that the National
Identification Number (NIN), supported by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), is
more than just a number; it is a gateway to opportunity, security, and dignity
for every Nigerian. From enrolling over 123 million citizens and residents to
safeguarding identities against fraud to empowering students, women, and
households economically, NIMC’s work demonstrates that a secure, verified
identity is the backbone of a digital public infrastructure,” she stated.

At the event, Senate President Goodwill Akpabio, represented
by Victor Umeh; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass,
represented by Okunjimi Odimayo; Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue
Zacch Adedeji; and others in their goodwill messages harped on the centrality
of NIN in Nigeria’s development.

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