The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) on Monday held a roundtable workshop in Abuja to examine the implications of the newly enacted 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 NIMC officials and online media practitioners to discuss the commission’s achievements, reforms and the importance of public awareness in building confidence in the national identity system.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of ACOE described the association’s four-year partnership with NIMC as productive and impactful.
He said the media would continue to support efforts to educate Nigerians on the significance of the country’s evolving digital identity infrastructure.
The chairman noted that NIMC had recorded notable achievements under the leadership of Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, including the expansion of the National Identity Database to more than 136 million enrolments as of July 2026.
He also highlighted the launch of the NINAuth platform for secure digital identity verification, improvements in digital identity infrastructure, enhanced diaspora services and nationwide enrolment expansion supported by trained Nigerian youths.
According to him, the migration of telecommunications operators to NINAuth would strengthen security and help curb identity-related fraud.
The ACOE chairman described the NIMC Act 2026, signed into law in June, as a major milestone that modernises Nigeria’s identity management framework.
He said the law positions NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for the nation’s Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure.
He added that the Act strengthens data protection and cybersecurity while promoting financial inclusion, access to government services and private-sector transactions through digital identity.
Representing the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Mr. Seun Adebayo said the project had supported the Federal Government’s efforts since 2020 to establish an inclusive and trusted foundational identity system.
Adebayo stated that reforming the legal framework was necessary because the previous NIMC Act of 2007 no longer met the demands of modern digital identity management.
He said the project provided technical and financial support for the review process through diagnostic studies, stakeholder consultations, technical drafting, public hearings and international benchmarking.
According to him, consultations conducted in Abuja and Lagos in February 2024 enabled citizens, civil society organisations, financial institutions and media stakeholders to contribute to the reform process.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NIMC Act 2026 on June 26 repealed the 2007 Act and established a stronger legal foundation for the country’s identity management system.
Adebayo said the new law would strengthen inclusion, clarify eligibility requirements, improve personal data protection and provide stronger safeguards for the lawful use and disclosure of identity information.
He added that the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project would continue supporting NIMC’s enrolment expansion efforts, integration of national identity with civil registration systems, modernisation of technology platforms and improved access for women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
Also speaking, NIMC’s Director of Public Relations, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, highlighted improvements in staff welfare and operational capacity, including a 25 per cent salary increase, provision of laptops and iPads for staff, and functional staff buses.
Stakeholders at the workshop emphasised the need for sustained public enlightenment on the provisions and benefits of the NIMC Act 2026, describing the legislation as a significant step towards building a robust, inclusive and trusted national identity system capable of improving access to essential services for Nigerians.
