Remarks by Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at a 2-day workshop with publishers of online newspapers in Lagos.
President and Secretary of GOCOP
Distinguished Publishers
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning and welcome to this very significant workshop.
Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to each of you for your presence and for the work you do in amplifying public discourse, informing citizens, and holding institutions accountable. And for being partners in our drive to reposition the Nigerian Digital Identity Landscape.
I am especially thankful to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his interest in and commitment to a more robust and inclusive digital identity system for Nigeria.
Your role is pivotal and indispensable to the successful transformation of Nigeria’s digital identity landscape.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under my stewardship, is most appreciative of the partnership we have built and maintained with the publishers of Online Newspapers under the auspices of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP.
Since my assumption of office as DG/CEO of NIMC, we have been proactive, transparent, and inclusive in our engagement with all stakeholders across government institutions, the private sector, the media, NGOs, CSOs, women’s forums, disability clusters, and local communities.
This deliberate stakeholder-focused strategy has supported our core objective: to reposition the National Identity Management System to make it robust, inclusive and sustainable such that no one is left behind and the issued IDs guarantee their access to services and government interventions.
Building a Unified Identity System
The identity ecosystem in Nigeria was once fragmented, revenue-gulping, and exclusionary.
Today, that story is changing. Through collaboration with our stakeholders, we are building a unified, secure, and people-centered ID system—one that is becoming the cornerstone of national planning, financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and digital governance.
Since January 2022, when NIN enrolment stood at 72.7 million, we have recorded a phenomenal increase. As of July 2025, enrolment stands at over 122 million and counting.
This represents a 49% increase in enrolment rate, which is a clear testament to the progress we have made in just over three years.
Monthly, millions of Nigerians are now being enrolled and issued a verifiable means of identification, unlocking access to critical services in education, agriculture, healthcare, social protection, and beyond.
Institutional and Systemic Reforms
We have focused our efforts on addressing the deep-rooted issues that once plagued the identity enrolment process.
- Extortion and unofficial fees have been curtailed by over 40%, thanks to our enforcement of a transparent fee structure.
- Enrolment remains free, and modification and authentication fees are standardised and publicly disclosed.
- On the infrastructure front, we have invested in system automation, backend upgrades, and capacity expansion.
NIMC’s strategic collaborations with many government organisations have significantly enhanced service delivery across critical sectors. Key partners include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Immigration Service, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Correctional Service (NCoS).
These collaborations support identity verification for inmates, staff, and service processes within the correctional system. Recent partnerships also extend to the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), CreditCorp, and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), which has integrated its Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS) with the NIMC database to improve data accuracy and reduce pension-related fraud. Collectively, these collaborations have streamlined verification processes, enhanced access to essential services, and strengthened public confidence in identity-based systems.
Beyond technical integration, these partnerships continue to deliver tangible benefits to millions of Nigerians. Students now access educational loans more efficiently through NELFUND, while entrepreneurs and small businesses receive timely and transparent disbursements from SMEDAN and the Bank of Industry.
Through a NIN-enabled farmer registry managed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, verified farmers benefit from targeted subsidy programmes. Workers experience smoother compensation processes via NSITF, and individuals can build verifiable credit histories through CreditCorp.
Collectively, these initiatives reflect how a secure and unified digital identity system can open doors to education, financial inclusion, enterprise support, and social protection, driving real and inclusive progress across the country.
We have also introduced digital tools such as the NINAuth mobile app, the Self-Service NIN Enrolment and Modification app, and Contactless Biometric Solutions. Together, these tools have improved accuracy, reduced waiting times, and empowered millions of Nigerians to securely enroll, update, or verify their identity at their convenience. This aligns our processes with global ID4D standards for data protection and enhances user experience by making identity services faster, more accessible, and citizen-centered.
Digital Identity for Social Inclusion
Everyone deserves a verifiable means of ID, and our mission is to ensure no one is left behind.
Working through the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), we have reached out to underserved communities with emphasis on persons with disabilities, women and children, bringing enrolment services directly to their doorsteps.
With the aid of geospatial mapping and our innovative billing model for front-end partners, we have improved access, accountability, and performance across our national footprint.
So far, over 7, 167 revalidated Front-End Enrolment Partners and agents have been trained to serve these communities professionally and inclusively.
The Front-end enrolment partners and agents will be under strict monitoring and supervision.
Their services are now complemented by dedicated grievance redress officers deployed across all 36 states, ensuring that any concerns from enrollees or agents are addressed promptly through a 24/7 toll-free line.
NIMC also adheres to the highest level of data security protocols. Data Collected by NIMC is used only for the purpose of issuing the NIN and confirming the identity of the NIN holder.
Inter-agency Synergy and National Co-ordination
In March 2024, we inaugurated the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project Steering Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), with me as Secretary.
This high-level body includes the National Population Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Bureau of Statistics, and others.
It is tasked with harmonising identity databases, embedding NIN into all government service delivery, and coordinating legal reforms to strengthen inclusion and data protection frameworks.
Citizenship, Services, and the Economy
With NIN now a prerequisite for accessing student loans, farmer subsidies, SIM card registration, and social welfare schemes, we are seeing unprecedented levels of financial inclusion.
Over 3 million farmers and 800,000 students have already benefited from NIN-linked services.
In addition, SIM-NIN linkage as at May, 2025 has reached 172.67 million, enhancing regulatory compliance and financial service accessibility.
Our partnership with the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) has further expanded enrolment coverage among Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations, validating entries into the National Social Register and enabling better-targeted poverty alleviation programs.
Workforce Development and Financial Stability
At NIMC, we are equally investing in our people. Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 2,327 staff were promoted, 1,395 in 2023, and 932 in 2024, reflecting our commitment to rewarding excellence and fostering career growth.
Additionally, over 1,300 staff members have undergone training and retraining programmes, further equipping the Commission to deliver world-class identity management services.
In line with our commitment to operational efficiency and stakeholder trust, the Commission has successfully cleared the entire two-year backlog of payments owed to enrolment partners. This milestone underscores our resolve to maintain transparency, restore confidence, and strengthen partnerships across the identity ecosystem.
General Multipurpose Card, GMPC
We are on track to unveil a new General Multipurpose Card by October 2025.
This secure, multifunctional ID will provide seamless access to government services, financial platforms, health insurance, and other digital ecosystems.
Dear publishers and media partners-
- You have walked this journey with us.
- You have reported the highs and the lows. You have challenged us, supported us, and held up a mirror to our processes.
Today, I ask that we deepen this collaboration. Let us collectively combat misinformation, promote transparency, and use your powerful platforms to ensure every Nigerian knows their rights, understands the value of their identity, and is included in this national transformation.
As we consolidate the significant progress made so far, we must also acknowledge the critical gaps that persist, particularly in public awareness, digital literacy, and countering misinformation that threatens to undermine trust in our national identity system.
While NIMC continues to strengthen infrastructure, expand enrollment channels, and enhance data protection, we recognise that these efforts can only reach their full potential if Nigerians truly understand and embrace the importance of enrolling and keeping their identity records updated.
It is here that your role as publishers and shapers of public discourse becomes indispensable in reporting milestones, and in explaining why identity matters for everyday life, and in dispelling doubts and rumours before they take root.
Therefore, I call on you, our esteemed partners in the media, to actively help us bridge these gaps. Support us in taking accurate, clear, and citizen-focused information to every corner of the country; spotlight success stories and the real-life impact of digital identity; and work with us to design special campaigns, fact-check initiatives, and educational content that simplify complex processes for the average Nigerian.
By doing so, you will not only amplify the voice of NIMC but become co-builders of a robust, trusted, and inclusive identity system that leaves no one behind. Together, we can ensure that every Nigerian is empowered to say, confidently and securely: “I am recognised, I am included, I am identified.”
