By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

The news wafted through the ever-vibrant Nigerian social media firmament announcing a historic record-breaking information about a surge in the number of enrollees in the National Identity Database (NIDB). The enrollees, comprising citizens and legal residents now hits 136 million enrolment mark, which follows the diligence of the management and workforce of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). “NIMC hits 136 million enrolment”, the headline of many newspapers screamed.

A day before, the NIMC boss, Engineer Abisoye Coker Odusote, broke the news that more that 136 million Nigerians and residents have their identities fully captured in the database of the Commission, marking a turning point in the journey of NIMC towards establishing best practices template since it was set up.

Surpassing 136 million enrolment figure speaks a lot about the country's drive toward a comprehensive digital identity system. The achievement is not mere sloganeering, nor myths. A careful interrogation will discover that a robust digital identity system remains essential for effective planning, financial inclusion, social intervention programmes, and economic development.

It might be correct to assume that the rapid increase in enrolment reflects general acceptance of the National Identification Number (NIN) as a critical requirement for accessing government and private sector services. The NIN now serves as a unique identifier for citizens and legal residents across multiple services, from banking to telecoms.

The NIMC leadership, which Odusote is at the helm has demonstrated effective management of its mandate by this development. Also with this, NIMC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding enrolment across the country, improving identity verification services, and ensuring that every eligible Nigerian and legal resident is captured in the National Identity Database.

In a nutshell, NIMC is set for repositioning. Odusote, who embodies competence, integrity and has proven capacity for public service is well positioned to move to Commission to the next level.

While the ovations generated by the 136 million enrolment have yet to drop, Odusote announced another landmark by the NIMC on the same day. This time around the milestone is about the implementation of the new NIMC Act, and this happens to be a broader project. The new Act effectively repeals and replaces the 2007 legislation. Interestingly, the updated framework modernises Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by positioning the NIN as the foundational identifier under the “one person, one identity” policy.

Accordingly, it establishes NIMC as the root certificate authority for the national digital infrastructure and introduces robust data protection and cybersecurity measures, as well as digital credentials.

Engr. Odusote announced the breakthrough during the Commission’s courtesy visit to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, where she presented the new NIMC Act.

The new Act targets real time NIN enrolment experience and at the same time underscores Nigerian government unwavering commitment to enhanced enrolment and issuance of NINs to all eligible Nigerians and residents. In the same breadth the successful implementation of the NIMC Act 2026 will strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and accelerate national planning and development.

Another gain of the new Act is that Nigeria can leverage the NIN for economic planning and national development initiatives. As matter of fact, the DG NIMC, Odusote identified this potential and extended her appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership noting that it will advance the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda

She is not alone. Also speaking on the benefits of the new Act, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu stated that the Act provides a solid legal foundation for a trusted, secure, and inclusive national identity management system. The minister added that the true measure of the Act’s success will lie in its effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to citizens.

It bears repeating that the new national identity law, carries a lot of values. These include, it is designed to strengthen identity management, improve service delivery, enhance national security, and support digital governance.

The NIMC was established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 and began operations in 2010. The NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 legally created the National Identity Management Commission, giving it the mandate to establish, operate, and manage Nigeria's National Identity Database, register citizens and legal residents, assign Unique National Identification Numbers (NIN), and issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to eligible individuals

The Act also repealed the law that created the former Directorate of National Civic Registration (DNCR), transferring its assets, liabilities, and personnel to the NIMC

Although the Act was passed in 2007, the commission officially came into effect in 2010, with an initial budget allocation of approximately 30 billion naira in the 2011 federal budget.

Since its inception, NIMC has partnered with international and local organizations to develop computerized national identity cards and provide data capture services, ensuring the creation of a secure and comprehensive national identity management system. Transforming the Nigerian digital infrastructure leading to enhanced public service delivery is one of the challenges of the NIMC. Over the years the Nigerian governments have been faced with eliminating data fragmentation. The government had taken steps towards transition to a new era of seamless data management governance.

The new governance touches on integrated systems, data and technical excellence. Achieving this has been the focus and drive of Odusote since becoming the DG/Chief Executive of NIMC.

For nearly 20 years, NIMC has struggled to get Nigerians and legal residents repose trust in its services especially in data management and protection of personal information.

Critical questions regarding protection of citizen’s privacy and data accuracy have been asked. The new law which completely replaces the 2007 NIMC Act tends to answer these questions.

The NIMC 2026 Act seeks to change how Nigeria manages identity in a digital age and to strengthen the systems that depend on it. The new Act, coded: One Person, One Identity, One Number gives oxygens to the National Identification Number (NIN), makes it increasingly important and central to almost every public service enjoyed. It also ensures the connections of government databases more effectively, enabling different agencies to share verified information securely. It does not allow frauds nor manipulations. Instead, it tightens grip, harmonises former fragmented data such that individuals could not get through with multiple identities or documents.

The new law carries tougher penalties, stipulating up to a ?20 million fine for companies and a minimum of five years in jail for impersonation, multiple registrations, or unauthorised access.

It spells out Special provisions for vulnerable people and Nigerians in the diaspora. Under the new Act, Privacy is protected. This implies that and individual’s data cannot be used without proper consent and legal process.

Suffice it to say that the law is built around a simple goal- to make identity more trusted, then use that trust to improve everyday services.

Besides making identity services more accessible, especially in underserved rural communities around the country, and rebuilding public trust in the system, NIMC has a huge internal challenge to face. It is public knowledge that corrupt officials and personnel, willing to compromise and be compromised exist in the Commission. Moving forward, NIMC must ensure that it puts in place an effective mechanism for not only fishing out corrupt officials and personnel, but also sweeping them off the Commission. NIMC must regularly instil discipline and work ethics in its workforce, not just by whispering. Nothing should prevent NIMC from attaining the ultimate progress. There are many qualified Nigerians to do the job even better. Nigerians must see a changed workforce in the NIMC.

•NWOKOCHA is on the Board of The First Mail newspaper, and contributes this piece from Abuja, Nigeria.

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