President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a credible, secure, verifiable, and user-friendly identity management system for all Nigerians, describing it as a cornerstone for the nation’s growth and development.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the President spoke at the State House during the official unveiling of the NINAuth App, a mobile-based digital identity authentication tool developed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He emphasized that his administration is leveraging technology to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency across all sectors of governance.
Tinubu announced that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) would soon adopt the new app for staff and data verification purposes.
“Today’s official launch of the NIMC NINAuth App heralds a remarkable day in our nation’s digital public infrastructure journey as Africa’s largest identity database. This innovation marks yet another milestone in our collective pursuit of a digitally-empowered Nigeria,” Tinubu stated.
He reiterated that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, his administration is focused on modernizing digital infrastructure to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks, enabling every Nigerian to access essential services efficiently and without bureaucratic frustration.
The President further explained that the NINAuth App positions Nigeria among the world’s technologically advanced nations by providing a platform for secure, seamless, and inclusive access to services and opportunities while maintaining top standards in data protection and national security.
“This way, we are simplifying access, reducing bureaucratic interference, and reducing the gaps within which inefficiency and corruption can thrive,” he said.
Tinubu underscored that a “credible and inclusive National Identity Management System” is vital to achieving national development objectives. According to him, such a system enhances financial inclusion, strengthens social welfare, bolsters security, and ensures accurate population data for evidence-based planning.
He added that with the NINAuth App, every Nigerian and legal resident would benefit from a unified National Identity Database, which would improve electoral integrity, healthcare access, social programs, and equitable resource distribution.
Calling on citizens to embrace the innovation, Tinubu praised NIMC for transforming identity management from a bureaucratic process into a technology-driven system that aligns with global standards.
“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. The launch of this application demonstrates that the promises we have made as a government are being responsibly measured and are manifesting in tangible reforms that improve daily life.
“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. Together, we are building a nation where every identity counts and every citizen must matter,” he said.
Earlier, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, emphasized the crucial role of secure identity systems in national development, noting that through the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu has shown exceptional leadership in solving problems with technology.
“Your excellency, you are solving tomorrow’s problem with technology. Technology is dynamic; it is bridging the gap. 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,” he said.
Also speaking, NIMC Director General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that the app would eliminate multiple data ownership and ensure real-time data authentication for both government and private enterprises.
“It is important that every single business or enterprise in this country, whether it’s a small, medium, or large enterprise, can have access to verifiable identity credentials of every single citizen in Nigeria and the same for the government,” she stated.
She further revealed that NIMC had enrolled 126,717,316 individuals, with 25 million registrations recorded in the past two years and an average of 1.3 million verification hits daily.
What You Should Know
President Bola Tinubu’s launch of the NINAuth App marks a major leap toward a digitally empowered Nigeria.
Designed to enhance identity verification, the initiative aims to strengthen transparency, promote inclusiveness, and streamline governance while ensuring every Nigerian’s identity counts in the nation’s development drive.
