Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) held a roundtable workshop on Monday in Abuja, with stakeholders examining the implications of the new NIMC Act 2026 and its role in strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
The workshop, themed “The New NIMC Act: Building Trust, Enabling Services, Transforming Nigeria,” brought together officials of NIMC and members of the online media to discuss the commission’s achievements, ongoing reforms and the importance of public awareness in building confidence in the national identity system.
Among NIMC officials at the event were the Director of Public Relations, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, as well as Ismail Sule, Elijah Adejoh and Munirat Lawal.
The Project Director, Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Mrs. Tito Ejenavi, was represented by Mr. Seun Adebayo, while the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, was represented by the Director, SERVICOM, Mrs. Florence Oloruntade.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of ACOE commended the leadership of NIMC and described the association’s partnership with the commission over the past four years as productive and impactful.
He said ACOE remained committed to informing Nigerians about NIMC’s activities, reforms and achievements, noting that the media had an important role to play in helping citizens understand the significance of the country’s evolving digital identity infrastructure.
According to him, NIMC has recorded significant milestones under Coker-Odusote’s leadership, including the expansion of the National Identity Database to more than 136 million enrolments as of July 2026.
He also highlighted the launch of NINAuth for secure digital identity verification, the strengthening of digital identity infrastructure, improved diaspora services and nationwide enrolment expansion supported by trained Nigerian youths.
He said the migration of telecommunications operators to NINAuth would further enhance security and help reduce identity-related fraud.
The chairman described the NIMC Act 2026, signed into law in June, as another major milestone, saying it modernised the legal framework for identity management and positioned NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure.
The new law, he noted, also strengthens data protection and cybersecurity while supporting financial and social inclusion, government services and private-sector transactions through digital identity.
He said the Act would facilitate enrolment of vulnerable and underserved Nigerians and further position NIMC at the centre of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure.
The Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Kayode Adegoke also highlighted improvements in staff welfare and operational capacity, including a 25 per cent salary increase across the board, provision of laptops and iPads as working tools, and functional staff buses.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Adebayo said the project had supported the Federal Government’s efforts since 2020 to establish a robust, inclusive and trusted foundational identity system.
She explained that legal reform was a major component of the project because the previous NIMC Act, enacted in 2007, had become inadequate for the demands of modern digital identity management.
According to her, the project provided technical and financial support for the review process, including diagnostic studies, stakeholder consultations, technical drafting, public hearings and international benchmarking.
“The consultations held in Abuja and Lagos in February 2024 provided opportunities for citizens, civil society organisations, financial institutions and the media to contribute to the reform process.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NIMC Act 2026 on June 26 marked a significant milestone, as the law repealed the 2007 Act and provided a stronger legal foundation for Nigeria’s identity management system”.
Adebayo said the new law would strengthen inclusion, clarify eligibility, improve protection of personal data and provide greater guarantees around the lawful use and disclosure of identity information.
She added that the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project would continue supporting NIMC in expanding enrolment, integrating national identity with civil registration, modernising its systems and improving access for women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
She urged the media to help Nigerians understand not only the new law’s existence but also its practical benefits, particularly stronger data protection, clearer identity rights, and improved access to essential services.
Adebayo described the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 as a major milestone for both NIMC and Nigeria, saying it would move the country closer to a robust, inclusive and trusted national identity system capable of facilitating access to essential services for all Nigerians.
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