In Nigeria, where digital transformation and a cashless economy are rapidly becoming the norm, an overlooked group struggles in silence—people affected by leprosy. While the country advances, lepers remain excluded from basic systems like the National Identification Number (NIN) registration, leaving them unable to access essential services such as banking, healthcare, and voting.

In Ogun State, many lepers face heartbreaking exclusion. Most have lost their fingers, making it impossible for them to be captured in the NIN system, which relies heavily on fingerprint technology. This issue has left many of them disconnected from society, with flagged bank accounts and blocked phone numbers.

Jimoh Ahmed, the Chairman of the Integrated Dignity Economic Advancement (an association for lepers in Ogun State), described the struggles of his community. “We feel like we’re no longer Nigerians,” he said. “Without NIN, we can’t access our money or even basic services.”

The majority of lepers in Ogun live in colonies in Iberekodo (Abeokuta) and Ijebu Igbo. Once reliant on farming as a livelihood, they now face land encroachment and have lost their means of survival. The state government provides a monthly stipend of ₦10,000, but rising costs make it difficult to survive.

Ahmed explained, “Even to eat is a struggle. The stipends help, but they’re not enough. We’ve asked the government to increase the amount because the hardship is too much.”

Discrimination further worsens their plight. Drivers often refuse to transport them, and many lepers drop out of school due to the stigma and humiliation they face.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has stated that lepers can still register for NIN without fingerprints. Instead, their system can generate a NIN using photographs. The NIMC also offered to bring mobile registration centers to leper colonies, as they have done in other states.

This step could be a game-changer, allowing lepers to regain access to critical services and feel recognized as part of the nation.

Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, lepers in Nigeria continue to live on the fringes of society. They are calling on the government to:

• Increase stipends to match current economic realities.
• Ensure access to NIN registration for all, regardless of physical limitations.
• Provide more opportunities for integration and self-reliance.

As Nigeria advances into the digital age, the country must ensure no citizen is left behind. Supporting the leper community is not just a moral obligation—it’s a step toward true inclusivity and progress.