By Queen Kunde
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to build a credible, secure, and inclusive national identity management system, describing it as “fundamental to Nigeria’s development goals.”
Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during the official launch of the NINAuth App, a digital identity authentication platform developed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), President Tinubu said the initiative marks a major leap in Nigeria’s digital governance journey.
“Today’s official launch of the NIMC NINAuth App heralds a remarkable day in our nation’s digital public infrastructure journey,” the President declared. “A credible and inclusive National Identity Management System supports financial inclusion, strengthens social welfare delivery, enhances security, and ensures accurate population data for planning.”
The President explained that the mobile-based application will simplify access to services, reduce bureaucratic delays, and curb inefficiencies that enable corruption.
He emphasized that under his Renewed Hope Agenda, technology will continue to play a central role in promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability in governance, with the new app to be adopted soon across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for staff and data verification.
“We are simplifying access, reducing bureaucratic interference, and closing the gaps within which inefficiency and corruption can thrive,” Tinubu said. “Every Nigerian, regardless of background or location, must have access to essential services without the frustration of delays.”
President Tinubu urged citizens to embrace the innovation, assuring that it would enhance trust in governance and improve service delivery across sectors, from healthcare and elections to social programmes and economic planning.
“The future we seek is one where technology empowers every citizen and where trust in governance is built on efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness. Together, we are building a nation where every identity counts and every citizen must matter,” he added.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, praised the initiative as a technological solution to future governance challenges, saying:
“Every nation that desires to be efficient must first build systems that can identify, authenticate, and secure its citizens. Identity is not just an administrative requirement; it is the backbone of governance and national security.”
On her part, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of NIMC, said the app will eliminate multiple data ownership and provide real-time authentication for businesses and institutions. She revealed that over 126.7 million Nigerians have been enrolled in the national database, with 25 million registrations recorded in the last two years, and an average of 1.3 million verification hits daily.
With the launch of the NINAuth App, Nigeria joins the ranks of nations leveraging digital identity systems to foster inclusive growth, strengthen national security, and ensure equitable access to services.
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