NIMC Enrols Over 136 Million Nigerians as Tinubu’s New Identity Law Takes Effect

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents have now been enrolled into the National Identity Database (NIDB), marking a major milestone as the Federal Government begins implementing the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission Act.

The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed the figure during a courtesy visit by the commission's management team to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, in Abuja.

According to NIMC's Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the visit formed part of the commission's ongoing engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) following the signing into law of the new NIMC Act by President Bola Tinubu about two weeks ago.

During the meeting, Coker-Odusote formally presented the new legislation, which repeals and replaces the National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007.

She explained that the new law modernises Nigeria's digital identity framework by establishing the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country's foundational identity credential under the government's "One Person, One Identity" policy.

According to her, the legislation also designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria's national digital identity infrastructure while introducing stronger safeguards for data protection, cybersecurity and the issuance of secure digital credentials.

The NIMC Director-General reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian and legal resident is enrolled and issued a National Identification Number within the shortest possible time.

She also expressed the commission's readiness to collaborate more closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in deploying the National Identification Number to support evidence-based economic planning, policy formulation and national development initiatives.

Coker-Odusote further commended Senator Bagudu for his continued support for the commission and his role in advancing President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda through improved national planning and institutional reforms.

Responding, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning described the new NIMC Act as a landmark reform that would significantly strengthen Nigeria's digital identity ecosystem and enhance national planning.

Bagudu said the legislation provides a stronger legal framework for building a trusted, secure and inclusive identity management system capable of supporting efficient governance and improved public service delivery.

He also praised the leadership of NIMC for driving the process that culminated in the passage of the legislation, noting that the commission had laid the foundation for a more integrated national identity system.

The minister, however, stressed that the real impact of the law would depend on its effective implementation.

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

According to Bagudu, the National Identification Number should serve as Nigeria's single, universally accepted identity standard, providing a unified platform for efficient service delivery, economic planning and good governance.