The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB) with their National Identity Numbers (NIN). 

The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed this in Abuja when she led the Commission’s management team on a visit to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu. 

According to the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Dr Kayode Adegoke, the visit was part of ongoing stakeholder engagements with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) regarding the implementation of the new NIMC Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu two weeks ago. 

Coker-Odusote presented the new Act, which repealed and replaced the 2007 legislation.

 The Act modernised Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by positioning the National Identification Number (NIN) as the foundational identifier under the “one person, one identity” policy.

 It established NIMC as the root certificate authority for the national digital infrastructure and introduced robust data protection and cybersecurity measures, as well as digital credentials.

Engr Coker-Odusote restated the commitment of the present administration to enrolling and issuing NINs to all Nigerians and legal residents within the shortest possible time. 

She expressed NIMC’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on leveraging the NIN for economic planning and national development initiatives. 

She also extended appreciation to the Minister, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for his leadership and support in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Senator Bagudu, in his remarks, reaffirmed the Government’s full commitment to the successful implementation of the NIMC Act 2026. He described the legislation as a transformative milestone that will strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and accelerate national planning and development.

Heccommended the Director-General and the leadership of NIMC for their sustained efforts in securing the passage of this landmark legislation. He noted that the Act provides a solid legal foundation for a trusted, secure, and inclusive national identity management system.

Senator Bagudu emphasised that the true measure of the Act’s success will lie in its effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to citizens.

 He called for stronger collaboration across federal, state, and local governments to build public confidence in the national identity system and eliminate the duplication of identity databases across government institutions.

“The National Identification Number (NIN) should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard, supporting efficient service delivery and good governance,” the Minister said.

Source: The Nation News