3.8. Availability of state support mechanism for individuals without social network

3.8. Availability of state support mechanism for individuals without social network

Nigeria’s NBS indicated that by August 2024, about 40 % of Nigerians had a National Identity Number (NIN) or National Identity Card.1216 TVCNews reported in September 2025 that, according to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), over 123 million Nigerians ‘have been captured in the National Identity database’.1217

ILO’s ILOSTAT provided the following data from 2022 for Nigeria:

• population covered by at least one social protection benefit: 14.8 %

• persons above retirement age receiving a pension: 19.6 %

• unemployed receiving unemployment benefits: 0 %

• employed covered in the event of work injury: 10.1 %

• poor persons covered by social protection systems: 22.9 %

• vulnerable persons covered by social assistance: 10.1 %1218

The Jobberman report indicated that social networks are ‘indispensable pillars’ in economic activities and community cohesion, and that in Nigeria's informal sector, familial bonds extend beyond kinship, establishing a foundation of trust and economic exchange. The same source indicated that while family networks support knowledge sharing, financial pooling, and stability for entrepreneurs, community associations promote collaboration and solidarity, facilitating collective action and market access. Ethnic affiliations influence economic interactions through shared cultural norms, aiding in niche market access. Informal social networks, however, can be exclusive, often limiting participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups.1219