By Iro, I.
Recent reports across mainstream and digital media indicate that Nigeria is on the verge of introducing a new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) system. This initiative, according to official sources, is designed to broaden the tax base by incorporating individuals who have historically remained outside the formal tax architecture.
On the surface, this objective is commendable. Digitally enabled tax systems enhance administrative efficiency, promote fiscal transparency, and strengthen public accountability. However, while the goal may be sound, the approach—specifically around data capture and identity management—is fundamentally flawed and counterproductive.
The Data Governance Deficit
There exists a deep and systemic misunderstanding within Nigerian public institutions regarding data architecture, interoperability, and identity lifecycle management. This deficit in data governance is not a trivial oversight—it is a structural vulnerability that exposes millions of Nigerians to privacy violations, data breaches, and digital disenfranchisement.
Every new policy involving the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) inevitably results in the creation of yet another fragmented, siloed database. Instead of reinforcing the national identity infrastructure, these initiatives often contribute to data redundancy and administrative bloat. The result is a labyrinth of disconnected systems that are difficult to secure, even harder to manage, and nearly impossible to integrate.
Redundancy in Numbers
A critical review of Nigeria’s digital identity landscape reveals a bewildering array of systems already collecting identical or near-identical datasets:
* National Identification Number (NIN)
* Bank Verification Number (BVN)
* Driver’s License
* International Passport
* Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC)
* SIM registration records
* National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) ID
* Local Government registries
* Educational and workplace databases
* DisCo Meters
These platforms all gather variations of the same biometric and demographic attributes—name, date of birth, address, fingerprints, photographs—without any form of federated identity governance or unified data architecture.
In mature digital economies, these disparate identity domains are unified under a single, persistent identifier. The United States, for example, utilizes the Social Security Number (SSN) as a universal citizen identifier—a 9-digit code that links an individual to financial services, healthcare, legal rights, and public benefits. From cradle to grave, the SSN is all one needs to legally exist in the system. By the same logic, one cannot even die without it.
Nigeria, by contrast, continues to multiply identifiers without resolving the underlying issue: lack of trust in existing data.
The Path Forward: Algorithmic Integration, Not Repetition
With the appropriate mandate, I am confident that it is possible to assign a unique, federated identity to over 150 million Nigerians—without collecting a single new data point. The information already exists. What’s missing is the capability—and political will—to synthesize it.
Using proven data engineering methods such as deduplication algorithms, probabilistic record linkage, and machine learning-driven entity resolution, we can consolidate existing data silos into a coherent national identity framework. Such a system would dramatically reduce the cost of service delivery, increase compliance, and protect citizens from identity fatigue and data exposure.
Lessons from Recent Policy Failures
We must not repeat the missteps of the recent naira redesign policy under the Buhari administration—an effort that caused mass financial distress, disrupted commerce, loss of means of livelihood, and ultimately failed to deliver on its promises. Millions of Nigerians suffered unnecessarily, even deaths, due to poor execution and disregard for the socio-economic context.
Likewise, the TIN initiative risks becoming another bureaucratic misadventure if implemented without a data-centric vision and robust governance framework.
Documentation Fatigue: A Nation at its Limit
Since the colonial era, Nigerians have been subjected to an endless cycle of form-filling, identity verification, re-registration, and recertification. From analog census rolls to digital voter cards, the nation has seen a proliferation of documentation exercises—often without meaningful coordination or outcomes.
Today, Nigeria is suffering from a full-blown case of documentation fatigue. Citizens are exhausted. The solution is not to create more forms, more IDs, or more databases. The solution is to modernize our data systems, harmonize existing datasets, and build public trust through transparency and digital inclusion.
Conclusion
The future of digital governance in Nigeria depends on our ability to treat data as a strategic national asset—not just a bureaucratic requirement. Before launching yet another identity system, we must pause and ask: Do we really need more data, or do we need better systems to manage the data we already have?
