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NIN Registration: Lepers Decry Lack Of Identity, Exclusion

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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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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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