The Nigerian government revealed that 6,000 people from the Niger Republic illegally obtained National Identity Numbers (NINs).
A reliable source in the presidency disclosed that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while briefing the Federal Executive Council on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The minister, however, revealed that Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, has wiped the 6,000 NINs obtained by Nigeriens from its database.
“The interior minister said NIMC is tidying up the database because they found over 6,000 people from the Niger Republic who obtained NIN. But they have been wiped from the database,” the source stated.
According to the source, Olubunmi was added to the special panel overseeing the country’s humanitarian ministry, which is responsible for conditional cash transfers and other welfare programmes.
The Director-General of NIMC, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, confirmed the development, saying the agency was working to ensure transparency and accuracy in government payments, particularly for humanitarian purposes.