Tinubu Enhances Nigeria's Identity System to Combat Fraud

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, delivered a keynote address on September 16, 2026, at the eighth National Day of Identity celebration in Abuja. He emphasized that strengthening Nigeria's national identity system is crucial for combating identity fraud, financial crimes, and terrorism.

Tinubu noted that the number of National Identification Numbers (NINs) in the national identity database rose from approximately 80 million to nearly 140 million since his administration took office. The national identity infrastructure has been expanded to accommodate up to 250 million records, and a ward-level enrolment drive was launched in February 2026, allowing free NIN registration across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria.

The President also mentioned the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for identity management and enhances personal data safeguards. He highlighted the importance of integrating the NIN into various sectors, including taxation and banking, to create a unified identity system.