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NIN Registration: Lepers Decry Lack Of Identity, Exclusion

In Nigeria, a nation that takes pride in its expanding digital economy and the prospect of a cashless society, the forgotten community of lepers languishes in the shadows.
As the country advances technologically, persons affected by leprosy are left behind, grappling for survival.
In this report, Gift Oba delves into the profound impact of this exclusion, exploring their daily struggles while they simultaneously battle the invisible barriers erected by a system that fails to recognize their existence.
In Ogun State, persons affected with leprosy face a devastating form of exclusion and no longer consider themselves indigenes of Nigeria due to their loss of fingers and inability to be captured on the National Identification Number (NIN)portal.
Jimoh Ahmed, a victim of leprosy and the Chairman of the Integrated Dignity Economic Advancement, an association that caters for persons affected with leprosy in Ogun State, revealed that some of their members were left out during the NIN registration process, resulting in their bank accounts flagged and telephone numbers disconnected.
Ahmed, in an interview with DAILY POST, lamented the untold suffering this has added to them.
“I would say people affected with leprosy are no longer Nigerians because whatever we want to do now, they ask for NIN.
“Most of our members do not even have fingers anymore and could not be captured in the NIN office.
“Some of them that have money in the bank cannot collect it because they have flagged their accounts and the banks are always requesting for NIN,” he said.
The National Identification Number, NIN, was introduced in Nigeria in 2012 by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC,. The NIMC was established in 2010 by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2007 to create, operate and manage Nigeria’s national identity card database, integrate the existing identity database in government institutions, register individuals and legal residents, assign a unique national identification number and introduce general multi-purpose cards.
This document, essential for accessing basic services like healthcare, banking, and even voting, remains elusive and effectively erases lepers from the very fabric of society.
We Find It Hard To Feed – Patients
The majority of Ogun State’s lepers who reside in the colony and neighbouring villages have bemoaned the hardships they face trying to provide for themselves.
The state has two colonies, one located in the Iberekodo area of Abeokuta and the other in Ijebu Igbo, yet these persons struggle to survive.
Ahmed stressed that they most times have to rely on the N10,000 naira stipends given to them by the state government, emphasising the need to reintegrate into society, particularly as the nation’s economic difficulties worsen.
He disclosed that their major occupation in the colony was farming but due to land encroachment, they are now left with nothing.
Ahmed said, “Even those still residing in the community, the heartache is too much for them. For them to eat is hard.
“The government is giving some stipends which is N10,000. It increased from N3,000 to N10,000 in 2013. From 1999 when Governor Osoba was there, he increased the money from N500 to N1500.
“In 2003, precisely on May 27, 2003, before Governor Daniel entered office, he visited the colony that day; they increased the money from N1500 to N3000 and from N3000 till 2013 before Governor Ibikunle Amosun increased it to N10,000.”
While appreciating the government for its palliative during the festive period,he begged them to look into increasing their stipends.
“We have been appealing to the government, the present Governor Dapo Abiodun for the increment, just to review the money because the hardship is too much now.
“We are over a hundred persons; some stay in the colony, and other members are still in the community area because we’ve been trying to let the people know that we want to integrate them into the community, and we’re doing it.
“In that community, the first job we do is farming but due to the encroachment of the land, there’s no opportunity for that.
“That is why we’re only appealing to some members to diversify in their own business.
“We’re trying to let them know that they can’t do only farming but there’s no money for us to establish the business.”
“Don’t Enter My Cab” – Ogun drivers to lepers
Despite the country’s advancement, DAILY POST gathered that in Ogun state, transportation has been a major challenge for these persons.
Ahmed, while stressing that the majority of drivers in the state do not want to carry them, said, “Whenever we want to enter a car, when they see our hand or leg, they’ll say ‘don’t come in.’”
Regarding schooling, he also bemoaned the fact that some who had enrolled had been forced to drop out because they couldn’t handle the humiliation and shame of discrimination.
While Section 17(1), (2), 42(1) of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees equal rights for all Nigerians, lepers, however, have been forced to live on the fringes with their voices silenced and their struggles ignored.
We Can Enroll Them Without Fingerprints – NIMC
When contacted by DAILY POST, the Head of the Corporate Communication Unit, NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, said the NIN enrollment can accommodate persons affected by leprosy.
Adegoke insisted that no one is discriminated against by the commission, emphasizing that even in several Northern states, everyone had registered.
He said, “We don’t neglect anyone; we have never deferred anyone. Even in some states in the Northern part of Nigeria, we registered everybody.
“They go to our centres or if they want us to bring the system to them, we can talk to any of our people, if they have centres like leper colony just like we did in Ondo and some other state, we can bring the system to them to register them there, yes we can do that.”
When asked if there was an alternative way to enroll them without the use of fingerprints, Adegoke said, “There are ways; if they don’t have fingers, what we do is that we take their pictures, send it and generate a NIN for them.
“We can enroll them. There is no need for a finger”, he added.
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Tinubu The Best Thing To Happen To Nigerians, Says Lagos Assembly

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday listed some achievements of the Bola Tinubu-led administration describing the President as a blessing to Nigeria.
Speaking during plenary, the lawmakers took time to eulogise the President saying he came into office at a time when Nigerians were at a crossroads over the country’s socio-economic status before the 2023 elections.
Raising the motion, Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe I) told his colleagues that the policies initiated by Tinubu had begun to yield positive results in less than two years of his being in office.
Tobun noted that the country’s GDP had been boosted following Tinubu’s economic expertise. According to him, this is further reflecting in the current continuous strength of the Naira.
“Currently, the policies are yielding positive results and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased. The value of naira is gradually gaining strength.
“There is no more fuel scarcity anymore in the country. We need to encourage the federal government to continue on the good pedestrian it started two years ago,” Hon. Tobun said.
In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adewale Temitope (Ifako-Ijaiye I) said the President’s steps had shown that he was prepared before he took the baton of leadership.
Temitope said the Federal Government under Tinubu continues to meet the yearnings of Nigerians citing the refineries that are in operation and that have led to drops in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He re-echoed the efforts and sacrifices made by Tinubu, who he described as a true democrat, for the continued successes and strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) both in the state and the nation.
He said the House remains committed to the ideals of the party, its leadership and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a team of elders that continue to guide the party in Lagos.
On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Etim Osa II) praised the President for his fight against insecurity and his reducing inflation.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Aro Moshood (Ikorodu II), commended the President for the upward review of the country’s minimum wage, his investment drive that has seen the country securing over $40 million and for assuaging the effects of the removal of subsidy.
Speaker Mojisola Meranda expressed optimism that the President would meet the yearnings of Nigerians.
“I know President Tinubu will take us to the Promised Land. When he started, it was rough but it is becoming obvious the policies are yielding results.
“This is a positive result happening within the short time Tinubu came into power. Tinubu’s investment in the security architecture is also yielding results as we have insecurity reducing,” she said.
She directed the acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Taiwo Ottun, to send a commendation letter to the President acknowledging the positive impact of his policies and programmes.
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Tinubu Approves Retirement Age Increase For Doctors, Healthcare Workers To 65 Years

President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.
Dr Mannir Bature, national publicity secretary, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
Bature said the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has been directed to formally present the approval to the council on establishment through the office of the Head of Service for finalisation.
He said the policy shift was conveyed by Pate during a high-level meeting with the
NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.
Bature said the meeting also had in attendance the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
He said discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.
According to him, the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) are set for payment.
“The necessary funds have been secured, and disbursement to beneficiaries will commence soon,” he said.
Bature quoted the minister as saying that President Tinubu has approved the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.
“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers” he said.
He said following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval has been granted for the implementa tion of new tariffs for healthcare service providers.
“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nation-wide,” he said.
Bature said the coordinating minister expressed appreciation for the patience and collaboration of all stakeholders, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of all healthcare workers.
He said attendees at the meeting renewed their commitment to work together in advocating for the welfare of healthcare workers and ensuring the full implementation of key reforms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.
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First Lady Commiserates With Families Of 17 Zamfara School Fire Victims

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has condoled with the families of those who died in a fire outbreak that affected an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, on Tuesday night.
The police in Zamfara confirmed the death of 17 almajiris (street children), while 17 others were injured in the fire incident in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
In a statement on Thursday, Senator Tinubu also commiserated with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara over the tragic incident.
“I pray Allah to comfort and give the families and loved ones of the departed the fortitude to bear this painful loss.
“This, once again, brings to mind the need for precautionary safety measures in all our public facilities.
“I pray that such an incident will not recur, not only in Zamfara but in any other part of Nigeria.
“May Allah grant the souls of the departed Aljannah Firdaus,” she said.
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