NIMC begins harmonisation of national identity systems across MDAs

DDM News

(DDM) — The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched a sweeping national initiative to unify identity systems across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), in a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and eliminate decades of data fragmentation.

Under the leadership of Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC is now working in close partnership with both public and private stakeholders to integrate identity management and promote trust in a modern digital economy.

For decades, Nigeria’s identity infrastructure has been plagued by disjointed databases, each agency operating in isolation — from census bodies to the immigration service, banking verification systems to driver licensing.

Although NIMC was established in 2007 to unify these efforts, the mission struggled for traction until Dr. Coker-Odusote took office and refocused the Commission’s efforts around a comprehensive harmonisation agenda.

One of the core achievements of this renewed focus is the accelerated implementation of the National Digital Identity Ecosystem Project, which enables multiple authorised partners to issue National Identification Numbers (NINs) through a streamlined process.

The NIN now functions as a universal identifier, connecting individuals to critical services including banking, telecoms, travel documentation, and healthcare.

To reinforce adoption, the Federal Government mandated that all Nigerians must link their NINs to various services like SIM cards, voter cards, driver’s licences, and financial records.

This move, DDM gathered, has led to a nationwide surge in NIN enrolments, placing digital identity at the centre of national development.

The Commission has also signed memoranda and technical agreements with over 20 major government agencies, enabling secure data verification and exchange between institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Service, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office, JAMB, CAC, and the National Population Commission.

Technological upgrades are critical to this transition.

NIMC’s advanced API systems now allow real-time biometric verification, while back-end systems supported by the World Bank’s ID4D initiative are built to manage large-scale identity authentication and reduce fraud.

To sustain the momentum, NIMC has launched a nationwide MDA engagement and awareness campaign with support from the National Orientation Agency to promote digital identity literacy among the public.

At a recent stakeholder forum, Dr. Coker-Odusote stressed that identity harmonisation is not merely an administrative exercise, but the foundation for Nigeria’s inclusive economic growth.

“A single source of truth for identity is essential for national security, planning, and digital access,” she declared.

Looking forward, NIMC is expanding rural coverage with initiatives like the NIN-Ward Enrolment Exercise and is exploring blockchain integration for secure identity transactions.

DDM can confirm that legislative amendments to strengthen data protection and biometric ethics have already passed early readings in the National Assembly.

With the Commission’s aggressive reforms, experts believe Nigeria is on the verge of a digital transformation that could finally bring transparency, security, and inclusion to all citizens.

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