By Uche Onyeali
National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, has unveiled strategies to strengthen public trust, deepen transparency and ensure inclusive access to digital identity in Nigeria.
The commission disclosed this during a two-day roundtable discussion with the Association of Corporate Online Editors, ACOE, in Abuja, at the weekend.
In a keynote address at the event with the theme: ‘Building Trust in Digital Identity: Strengthening Media Partnerships for a Secure and Inclusive Ecosystem,’ Director-General of NIMC, Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote commended the vital role that the media plays in shaping public discourse, promoting government transparency and serving as a bridge between policy and the people.
Coker-Odusote, representing by Dr Alvan Ikoku, highlighted the transformation of Nigeria’s identity ecosystem from a fragmented and exclusionary system to a people-centred, secure and unified platform.
She announced that enrolment in the National Identity Number, NIN, system has grown from 72.7 million in 2022 to over 122 million by July, a 49 percent increase in just over three years.
According to her, this increase has enabled millions of Nigerians to access services in education, health, agriculture and financial sectors, empowering the country’s underserved population.
“The commission’s investment in digital infrastructure, automation and backend upgrade has improved service delivery, with special tools such as the NINAuth mobile app, Self-Servivvce Enrolment app and Contactless Biometric Solutions already deployed.
“Key institutional reforms were outlined during the event. These include: Curtailment of extortion and unofficial fees by 40 percent, transparent and standardised fee structure for modifications and authentication, and payment of all backlog debts owed to enrolment partners.
“Strategic collaborations with critical MDAs such as NHIS, FIRS, JAMB, INEC, CBN, NCC, NCoS, FRSC, and PENCOM were showcased. These partnerships have streamlined identity verification processes across corrections, education, health and pension services. NIN-enabled systems now support access to student loans (via NELFUND), agricultural subsidies, enterprise funding (SMEDAN, BOI) and workers compensation (NSITF), among others,” she said.
The upcoming General Multipurpose Card, GMPC, expected in October, will provide citizens with a secure and multifunctional ID that allows seamless access to government services, banking, health insurance and digital platforms.
In her remarks, the Project Coordinator of Nigeria Digital Identification for Development, ID4D, Mrs Tito Ejanavi reaffirmed ID4D’s support for inclusive enrolment efforts, especially among vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, children and rural dwellers.
Through the ID4D project, funded by the World Bank, French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank, over 7,167 Front-End Enrolment Agents have been trained and deployed nationwide.
In addition, infrastructure upgrades, biometric identification improvements and strategic reforms have enhanced national enrolment coverage, equity and security.
“We are not only investing in systems, but in people. Through workshops, stakeholder dialogues and grievance redress training, our teams are now better positioned to serve Nigerians more effectively,” Ejanavi said.
She commended the director-general for her visionary leadership and reaffirmed the project’s commitment to sustain media engagement.
In his address, ACOE’s President, Mr Shola Akingboye commended NIMC’s efforts and reiterated the media’s commitment to transparency and public education.
Akingboye acknowledged previous roundtable engagements, including the one in November 2024, and emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue between NIMC and the online media space to dispel misinformation and educate citizens about the value of identity management.
