FG Approves Overhaul of National Identity System

NIMC Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Ayobami Abiola, the Commission’s Technical Assistant on Policy and Partnerships, assured stakeholders of NIMC’s dedication to delivering a functional digital National identity system.

Lagos, Nigeria – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s national identity system, urging full support for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to accelerate digital identity enrolment and reforms.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial retreat on the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project in Lagos, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, emphasized the importance of a robust digital identity system. He stated that Nigerians would be required to use the National Identification Number (NIN) to access social services, including palliatives for the poor and vulnerable.

Akume, who was represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration prioritizes digital identity and called for greater inter-agency collaboration to enhance the system.

“The provision of a verifiable digital identity for all Nigerians is a cardinal focus of this administration,” Akume said. “Government agencies must support NIMC in establishing a robust and inclusive identity system.”

The ID4D project, backed by the World Bank, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by expanding NIN enrolment and integrating it with government services.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, also endorsed the initiative, pledging his ministry’s cooperation with NIMC to ensure that NIN becomes the key identifier for social interventions.

NIMC Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Ayobami Abiola, the Commission’s Technical Assistant on Policy and Partnerships, assured stakeholders of NIMC’s dedication to delivering a functional digital identity system.

“The enthusiasm and collaboration at this retreat reaffirm our dedication to repositioning the national identity system,” she said.

The retreat, attended by key government officials and stakeholders, reviewed progress on digital identity implementation and discussed strategies to address operational challenges.

So far, approximately 115 million Nigerians and legal residents have been issued NINs, marking significant progress in the country’s efforts to establish a comprehensive digital identity system.