The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents have now been enrolled into the National Identity Database (NIDB), marking a major milestone as the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 comes into force.

Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed the development during a courtesy visit by the Commission to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The engagement was part of NIMC’s ongoing consultations with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on implementing the provisions of the new legislation.

According to a statement issued yesterday, Coker-Odusote, an engineer, presented the provisions of the NIMC Act 2026, which repeals and replaces the Commission’s 2007 enabling law.

The new legal framework is designed to modernise Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by establishing the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country’s foundational identity under the “one person, one identity” policy. It also positions NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure while introducing stronger data protection, cybersecurity safeguards, and digital credentials.

Coker-Odusote 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 work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to maximise the use of the NIN in economic planning and broader national development initiatives.

The NIMC Director-General further appreciated the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for his leadership and continued support in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking during the visit, Bagudu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the NIMC Act 2026, describing the legislation as a landmark reform capable of strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem while accelerating national planning and development.

The minister also commended Coker-Odusote and the Commission’s leadership for their efforts in securing the passage of the legislation. He noted that the Act provides a strong legal foundation for building a trusted, secure, and inclusive national identity management system across the country.

Bagudu stressed that the effectiveness of the legislation would ultimately depend on its implementation and the practical benefits delivered to Nigerians. He called for deeper collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to increase public trust in the national identity system and eliminate the duplication of identity databases across government institutions.

“The National Identification Number (NIN) should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard, supporting efficient service delivery and good governance,” the minister stated.