The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has successfully enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB).
In a statement on Tuesday by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dr Kayode Adegoke, NIMC Director-General, Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announced this milestone during the Commission’s courtesy visit to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The visit forms part of ongoing stakeholder engagements with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) regarding the implementation of the new NIMC Act.
Engr. Coker-Odusote presented the new Act, which repeals and replaces the 2007 legislation. The updated framework modernises Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by positioning the National Identification Number (NIN) as the foundational identifier under the “one person, one identity” policy. It establishes NIMC as the root certificate authority for the national digital infrastructure and introduces robust data protection and cybersecurity measures, as well as digital credentials.
The Director-General reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment 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 Honourable Minister, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for his leadership and support in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
In his remarks, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, reaffirmed the Federal 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.
The Minister commended 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 stated.
