NPC CHAIRMAN JOINS STAKEHOLDERS TO CELEBRATE THE 7TH NATIONAL DAY OF IDENTITY IN ABUJA

The Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, today, 16th September 2025, addressed attendees at the 2025 National Day of Identity celebration held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

This year marks the 7th edition of the annual celebration, themed, "Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure."

In his speech, Hon. Kwarra emphasized the significance of interoperability among government agencies as a strategic enabler for good governance and national development. He highlighted the importance of collaboration and data integration, stating, “Interoperability is the bridge that connects institutional mandates, unlocks the power of data, and eliminates fragmentation across our systems.”

Hon. Kwarra commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its commitment to establishing a secure and inclusive identity ecosystem for all Nigerians. He noted the successful partnership between NPC and NIMC, which has led to significant advancements, such as the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (e-CRVS) system.

“This innovation has revolutionized identity creation in Nigeria,” he said, adding that newborns can now receive a NIN at birth, ensuring secure identification from the start of life.

The NPC Chairman also discussed the ongoing collaboration with UNICEF to enhance grassroots data collection, integrating birth registration with health facilities across several states. He reported that, in Jigawa State alone, health workers have registered over 15,000 children, with their birth certificates being processed for NIN generation.

Hon. Kwarra described the NIN as a critical tool for tracking identity throughout an individual's life, enabling better access to essential services like education and healthcare. He announced that NPC is training data officers in advanced analytics to enhance data management capabilities, which will support the publication of vital statistics and improve the overall data infrastructure.

Hon. Kwarra further stressed the need for a comprehensive identity system that includes death registration, which he referred to as “closing the identity loop.” He proposed that a verified death certificate should automatically update national systems to prevent fraud and maintain the integrity of the NIN.

NPC Chairman noted that the NPC is in constructive discussions with the National Identity Management Commission to explore how NIMC’s existing identity infrastructure could support the upcoming Population and Housing Census with a biometric exercise. He said, "with appropriate safeguards to protect people’s privacy, this collaboration would ensure every Nigerian is counted once, reduce duplication across systems, and move us toward a reliable, one-stop foundation of population data for policymakers, data users and service providers."

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration and reaffirmed NPC’s commitment to building a robust identity system that upholds citizens' rights and supports national development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He encouraged all Nigerians to engage with the ongoing initiatives aimed at ensuring every citizen is counted and recognized throughout their lives.

The Chairman of the NPC was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner for Lagos State, Barr. Mrs. Saidat Olayinka Oladunjoye.

However, the event was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr. George Akume, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Other top government officials in attendance, included the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Sen. Victor Umeh and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Identity and Population, Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo, along with various Ministers and Heads of Agencies.