The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has emphasized that Nigerians will require the National Identification Number (NIN) to access social services and palliatives meant for the poor and vulnerable.
Senator Akume, represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, made this known while declaring open an Inter-Ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
He reaffirmed that providing a comprehensive digital identity for all Nigerians remains a key priority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He called on government agencies to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in strengthening the national identity system to enhance governance and service delivery.
Commending the NIMC Director-General, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for her leadership, Akume assured that the government would back the Commission’s ongoing reforms through the ID4D Project to ensure a more inclusive identity system.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, lauded the efforts of NIMC and the ID4D team. He reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to collaborating with NIMC to ensure that only individuals with NINs can access social services and palliatives.
In her remarks, the NIMC DG/CEO, represented by Ayobami Abiola, Technical Assistant on Policy and Partnerships, expressed appreciation for the support from the government and stakeholders. She highlighted the progress made in repositioning the national identity system and assured that with sustained collaboration, every Nigerian and legal resident would have a verifiable digital identity.
The retreat brought together key members of the Project Ecosystem Steering Committee (PESC) and strategic partners to review the progress of the ID4D Project, celebrate achievements, and address implementation challenges.
