Shettima Hails Tinubu’s Digital Identity Reforms, Says NIMC Transformation Unmatched
Shettima Hails Tinubu’s Digital Identity Reforms, Says NIMC Transformation Unmatched
Shettima Hails Tinubu’s Digital Identity Reforms, Says NIMC Transformation Unmatched
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has commended the transformation of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the ongoing reforms at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as unprecedented and critical to the country’s digital future.
The Vice President gave the commendation on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and members of the Commission’s management team during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Shettima said the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that the legislation provides the legal framework for establishing a sovereign Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that will strengthen identity management, improve public service delivery and enhance secure digital governance.
According to him, the reforms will accelerate Nigeria’s transition from paper-based administration to a modern digital system built on secure and reliable identity verification.
The Vice President praised the leadership of Engr. Odusote, describing the rapid transformation of NIMC from a database management agency into Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority as remarkable.
He urged the Commission’s management to sustain the momentum by embracing technology-driven innovations that will support key pillars of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including financial inclusion, education, healthcare delivery and efficient public administration.
Shettima also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing bold reforms capable of improving governance and expanding access to digital services for Nigerians.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, congratulated President Tinubu for signing the NIMC Act 2026 into law, describing the legislation as a landmark reform that modernises Nigeria’s identity management system.
She explained that the new law enables seamless integration of government databases, allowing institutions to communicate more effectively while improving citizens’ access to government services.
The NIMC boss disclosed that the National Identification Number (NIN) has become the primary identity platform for government services, noting that the Nigeria Immigration Service now uses the NIN for passport issuance and renewal.
She added that several financial institutions, insurance companies and government agencies have already integrated with the national digital identity infrastructure, strengthening identity verification and service delivery across sectors.
The NIMC Act 2026, recently signed into law by President Tinubu, replaces the 2007 legal framework and is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s sovereign digital identity architecture, enhance national data security and reduce dependence on foreign digital identity platforms.
Shettima Hails Tinubu’s Digital Identity Reforms, Says NIMC Transformation Unmatched
