(Ecofin Agency) - The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (pictured), has set up a steering committee to monitor and speed up the digital identification of all Nigerians.

The World Bank-backed project is entering its active phase with the creation on 17 July 2020, by the Head of State, of the implementation committee whose presidency has been entrusted to the secretary of the government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The government of Nigeria wants to identify its citizens, to know where they live and work, their level of education, profession, etc.

This data will be used to ensure good governance, including identifying more easily the most vulnerable populations to be supported during times of crisis, fighting ghost civil servants who receive salaries, identifying tax loopholes.

In February, the World Bank approved the Digital Identification for Development Project for Nigeria, which aims to increase the number of people with a National Identification Number (NIN) to 150 million over the next three years. The project received a total of $430 million from the International Development Association ($115 million), the French Development Agency ($100 million), and the European Investment Bank ($215 million).