Tinubu explained the importance of Nin-Sim’s relationship

President Tinubu Bola said that the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) with a SIM card had significantly reduced fraud and improved Nigerian national security.

Speaking through the Federation Government Secretary, Senator George Akume, on the 2025 National Identity Day on Tuesday, Tinubu described the identity as “the foundation of citizenship, gate to opportunities, and anchors for national security.”

He noted that Nin, supported by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), has become the center of Nigerian digital transformation, providing stronger protection for transactions and increasing citizens’ confidence in government and private institutions.

“Without the PKI, digital interactions remain vulnerable. But with the PKI, Nigeria can build an ecosystem where trust is guaranteed, fraud is reduced, simplified services, and every citizen can be involved with self -confidence,” said Tinubu.

The President praised the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under the Director General Abisoye Caker-Odusote for registering more than 126 million Nigerians, cleaned a pile of 2.5 million records, mobilized more than 800 cellular registration devices, and integrated with 125 partner agents, including immigration and federal revenue services.

He also highlighted reforms within the agency, such as improving staff welfare, promotions for more than 2,800 personnel, the formation of world -class customer service centers, and rehabilitation of national registration centers. According to him, the commission has tightened security with more than 30 illegal operators, unauthorized central closure, and launch of verification services with 99.9 percent uptime.

Tinubu stressed that Nin has become very necessary for important services, including pension verification, educational loans, health care, tax records, general elections, and social investment programs. He said his government remained committed to upholding compulsory use regulations for Nin in all sectors, describing it as vital for national security, economic growth, and digital inclusion.

Also spoke, the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria made a stable progress in building a safe digital identity ecosystem, which he described as the foundation of national security and economic sovereignty. He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to modernize services and support biometric production through the newly established Tinubu Bola Technology Innovation Complex.

In his remarks, Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Caker-Odusote, said Nin had become a transformative tool for inclusion and economic empowerment. He revealed that more than 123 million Nigerians had been registered in the identity database, with cross -sectoral partnerships such as education, health care, and diaspora involvement.

He noted that the registration waiting time had been deducted almost half and the service was expanded to the inmates, people who were moved internally, and Nigerians abroad. Quoting for example, he said more than 449,000 students had accessed loans worth ₦ 86.35 billion through Nelfund, while verified farmers had received subsidized agricultural support.

In data protection, the coker-odusote ensured that despite efforts, the NIMC database remained uncompromising. “By documenting every citizen and population, we not only ensure the verification of the right identity but also allows better planning for security, disaster responses, and economic strategies,” he said.