The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), has commenced a three-day training programme aimed at updating the National Social Register (NSR) using the National Identification Number (NIN) for more efficient social intervention delivery.
The training, tagged ‘Integration of NIN with the NSR Update,’ was launched over the weekend at the Dover Hotel, Ikeja.
The initiative seeks to improve transparency, accountability, and accessibility in social protection programs.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Olayinka Ojo, the exercise will enable the assignment of unique identities to beneficiaries, ensuring social inclusion and preventing fraudulent claims.
She noted that as of February 2025, the Lagos State Single Social Register (LASSR) contains 759 Poor and Vulnerable households and 2,681,507 individuals.
“The primary objectives of this training include certifying field personnel as front-end enrollment partners with NIMC, facilitating NIN registration and verification, and aligning with the federal government’s goal of linking intervention beneficiaries to their unique identities,” Mrs Ojo stated.
“This will help reduce duplication, enhance transparency, and promote digital integration in identity management.”
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She emphasised that Lagos, as a sub-national entity, is strategically positioned to ensure the credibility of the register while improving the tracking of both government expenditure and beneficiaries’ access to social protection initiatives.
Speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Lagos, Olumide Aremu, highlighted the importance of data harmonization in monitoring the effectiveness of government interventions.
“This process allows the government to assess the impact of various programs,” he said.
“It enables us to analyze whether these interventions are reaching the right people and how they can be improved. Similar integrations have already been implemented with banks and the immigration service through BVN-NIN linkages.”
Mr Aremu assured that the exercise would run smoothly, with logistics systems under constant checks and enrollment centres across all local governments and LCDAs fully equipped for seamless integration.
In a presentation titled ‘Harnessing the Power of Data for Social Inclusion,’ the National Coordinator of NASSCO, Funmi Olotu—represented by Daniel Amba, Manager of the National Grievance Redress Mechanism (NGRM)—underscored the significance of NIN-linked enrollment in maintaining accurate records for social interventions.
“The use of NIMC devices for enrollment, Kobo Collect for data collection, and regular household information updates will ensure that only the right beneficiaries receive support,” she stated.
She further emphasised that integrating NIN with the State Social Register (SSR) would strengthen targeting mechanisms, ensuring that social protection programs effectively reach the most vulnerable households.
The training exercise reinforces Lagos State’s commitment to leveraging technology and data-driven policies to enhance governance and social welfare delivery.
