The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB), marking a major milestone as the newly enacted NIMC Act comes into force.
In a statement on Tuesday, the achievement was announced by the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as part of the commission’s ongoing stakeholder engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of the new legislation.
During the visit, Coker-Odusote presented the new NIMC Act, which repeals the 2007 law and introduces a modern legal framework for Nigeria’s digital identity system.
According to her, the legislation strengthens the country’s identity management architecture by establishing the National Identification Number (NIN) as the primary identity credential under the Federal Government’s “one person, one identity” policy.
She explained that the new Act also designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure while introducing enhanced data protection, cybersecurity safeguards and digital identity credentials.
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The NIMC boss reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian and legal resident is enrolled and issued a National Identification Number within the shortest possible time.
She also expressed the commission’s readiness to work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in leveraging the NIN to support economic planning, policy formulation and national development programmes.
Coker-Odusote further commended the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for his leadership and continued support in advancing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the implementation of the country’s digital identity initiatives.