President Bola Tinubu has affirmed that linking the National Identification Number (NIN) with SIM cards has significantly reduced fraud and improved Nigeria’s national security. Speaking through Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the 2025 National Day of Identity in Abuja, Tinubu said the policy has become central to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He explained that with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the NIN system now guarantees secure transactions and fosters trust between citizens, government, and private institutions. “Without PKI, digital interactions remain vulnerable. But with it, Nigeria can reduce fraud, streamline services, and build a trusted ecosystem,” Tinubu stated.
Commending the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Tinubu highlighted achievements including over 126 million enrollments, the clearance of 2.5 million backlogs, and integration with 125 agencies. He added that NIMC has clamped down on fraud, maintained ISO 27001:2022 certification, and launched a verification service with 99.9% uptime.
The president stressed that NIN is now vital for pensions, education loans, healthcare, tax, elections, and business registration, describing it as “the common key that unlocks opportunity and strengthens governance.” He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enforcing NIN usage across all sectors to boost security, digital inclusion, and economic growth.
