February 12, (THEWILL) – Nigerians are now required to present their National Identification Number (NIN) to have access to social services and government palliatives, the Federal Government said on Tuesday.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, announced this at the opening of an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Akume emphasised that the poor and vulnerable population would need NIN to benefit from the government’s palliatives.
Represented at the occasion by Prof. Babatunde Bolaji, the SGF called on all government agencies to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in building a robust and inclusive national identity system.
He emphasised that the provision of digital identity for all Nigerians remained a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Akume commended the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her dedication and commitment to fulfilling the Commission’s mandate. He assured her of his support in the pursuit of reforms to reposition the NIMC through the ID4D Project.
Also, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Tanko Sununu, reaffirmed his ministry’s collaboration with NIMC to ensure that NIN was utilised as a prerequisite for accessing social services and palliatives targeted at vulnerable groups across the country.
On her part, Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Ayobami Abiola, Technical Assistant on Policy and Partnerships, expressed gratitude to the SGF and the minister for their support. She assured PESC members of the commission’s dedication to delivering on its mandate.
Highlighting the importance of the retreat in fostering collaboration and innovation, Coker-Odusote said, “The enthusiasm and collaborative spirit displayed at this retreat are truly encouraging. Our discussions today have not only highlighted our achievements but also paved the way for innovative solutions to the challenges ahead.
“We are confident that with sustained inter-agency collaboration and support from all critical stakeholders, we will fast-track our mission to reposition the national identity system, making it more robust and inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian and legal resident has a verifiable digital identity and that no one is left behind.”
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