President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a credible, secure, and inclusive national identity management system, describing it as fundamental to achieving Nigeria’s developmental goals.
Tinubu made the declaration on Thursday during the launch of the NINAuth App, a new digital, mobile-based identity authentication application developed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
According to him, the innovation marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s digital transformation drive and underscores his government’s determination to leverage technology for transparency, accountability, and efficiency in governance.
“Today’s official launch of the NIMC NINAuth App heralds a remarkable day in our nation’s digital public infrastructure journey,” the President said in a press release on Friday, October 31, by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“This innovation marks yet another milestone in our collective pursuit of a digitally-empowered Nigeria.”
MDAs To Adopt NINAuth For Staff Verification
President Tinubu assured that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will soon adopt the NINAuth App for staff identity and data verification.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration is committed to leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in governance,” he said.
“Central to this agenda is the modernisation of digital infrastructure to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks and ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of background or location, has access to essential services without the frustration of bureaucratic delays.”
He added that the NINAuth App would place Nigeria among the world’s most technologically advanced nations, ensuring seamless, secure, and inclusive access to public and private services while maintaining high data protection and national security standards.
National ID System Vital For Growth, Security
Tinubu stressed that a credible national identity system remains central to the country’s development, adding that it supports financial inclusion, strengthens social welfare delivery, improves security, and ensures accurate population data for effective planning.
“A credible and inclusive National Identity Management System is fundamental to our national development goals,” he said.
“It supports financial inclusion, strengthens social welfare delivery, enhances our security architecture, and ensures accurate population data for evidence-based planning.”
The President also said that with the new digital system, every Nigerian and legal resident would benefit from a unified national identity database that will power social programmes, improve electoral integrity, and promote equitable access to healthcare and economic opportunities.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to adopt the new app and use it responsibly, commending the NIMC for transforming identity management into a technology-driven and globally competitive process.
“My fellow Nigerians, the future we seek is one where technology empowers every citizen and where trust in governance is built on efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness,” Tinubu said.
“Let us all embrace this new era. Let us protect it, use it responsibly, and ensure that it serves as a bridge, connecting our people, our institutions, and our aspirations for a more prosperous nation.”
He concluded: “Together, we are building a nation where every identity counts and every citizen must matter.”
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, hailed President Tinubu’s vision, describing the NINAuth App as a forward-thinking solution to Nigeria’s identity and security challenges.
“Your Excellency, you are solving tomorrow’s problems with technology,” Tunji-Ojo said.
“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, national security, and service delivery.”
NIMC DG Explains How NINAuth Works
On her part, the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the new app would help eliminate the problem of multiple data ownership while allowing real-time identity verification for businesses, government, and private institutions.
“It is important that every business or enterprise, whether small, medium, or large, can have access to verifiable identity credentials of citizens. The same applies to the government,” she explained.
She revealed that 126.7 million Nigerians have now been enrolled in the national identity database, with about 25 million enrollments recorded in the past two years and an average of 1.3 million daily verification hits on the system.
The NINAuth App launch aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digital governance, transparency, and innovation.
The Presidency said the initiative will help integrate all government databases, improve access to public services, reduce corruption, and promote data-driven decision-making.
“This way, we are simplifying access, reducing bureaucratic interference, and closing the gaps within which inefficiency and corruption can thrive,” the President said.
Naijaonpoint reports that with this development, Nigeria joins the ranks of nations embracing digital identity as the foundation for social inclusion, national security, and sustainable development.
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