The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says Nigeria’s National Identity Database has now enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents, marking another milestone in the country’s digital identity programme.
The Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as part of stakeholder engagements on the implementation of the newly enacted NIMC Act.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new NIMC Act into law on June 26, 2026, replacing the previous legislation enacted in 2007.
According to Coker-Odusote, the new law strengthens Nigeria’s digital identity framework by making the National Identification Number (NIN) the country’s primary means of identification under the “One Person, One Identity” policy.
She explained that the legislation also designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure while introducing stronger measures for data protection, cybersecurity and digital identity credentials.
Receiving the NIMC delegation, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, described the new legislation as a significant milestone for national planning and development.
Bagudu commended the Commission for successfully securing the passage of the Act after years of effort, adding that its true impact would depend on effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to Nigerians.
The minister called for stronger collaboration among the federal, state and local governments to eliminate multiple identity databases and create a unified national identity system.
He noted that a reliable national identity database would support evidence-based policymaking, improve planning and resource allocation, and enhance public service delivery through more accurate demographic and socio-economic data.
Bagudu also urged NIMC to strengthen data governance, privacy protection and cybersecurity, while putting safeguards in place to address emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ensure the protection of citizens’ personal information.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the new NIMC Act, describing it as a key step towards building a secure, trusted and inclusive national identity system that will support governance, service delivery and economic development.
