Nigeria has recorded a significant milestone in NIMC enrolments, with more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents now registered in the National Identity Database as the Federal Government begins implementing a new legal framework aimed at transforming the country’s digital identity system.
The National Identity Management Commission announced the development on Tuesday after a stakeholder engagement with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on the implementation of the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission Act.
The statement, signed by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, said the new legislation replaces the 2007 NIMC Act and introduces a stronger legal foundation for Nigeria’s identity management system.
Under the new law, the National Identification Number will become the country’s primary identity standard through a “one person, one identity” framework designed to establish a single, trusted identity for every Nigerian and legal resident.
New law expands NIMC’s digital identity responsibilities
The updated legislation also gives the commission broader responsibilities beyond identity registration. NIMC will now function as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, overseeing digital credentials while strengthening cybersecurity and data protection measures.
Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the commission remains focused on completing the enrolment of every Nigerian and legal resident within the shortest possible time.
“We have successfully enrolled more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database, and NIMC will collaborate with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to leverage the NIN for economic planning and national development initiatives,” she said.
The commission believes expanding the national identity database will provide government institutions with more reliable data for planning while improving access to digital services across different sectors.
Government targets stronger planning and better public services
The Federal Government says the identity overhaul is expected to improve public service delivery, strengthen economic planning, promote financial inclusion, and support social intervention programmes through a more reliable identification system.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the new law as an important step toward building a secure and inclusive national identity system.
According to him, the true impact of the legislation will depend on how effectively it is implemented and the value it delivers to Nigerians.
“The National Identification Number should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard, supporting efficient service delivery and good governance,” Bagudu said.
He also called for stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments to eliminate duplicate identity databases and ensure all public institutions adopt the National Identification Number as the country’s unified identity standard.
Also Read: “I Almost Died” as Halima Abubakar abandons Islam and Embraces Christianity After Years of Illness
Nigeria’s renewed focus on a single digital identity system aligns with global efforts by governments to use secure identity infrastructure to improve governance, reduce fraud, enhance service delivery, and expand access to both public and private sector services.
As NIMC enrolments continue to rise, the government expects the unified identity framework to play a greater role in national planning and digital transformation.
