The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to intensify its crackdown on identity fraud, following the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026, which significantly strengthens Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and empowers the commission to combat identity-related crimes.
Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), as part of government efforts to sensitise public institutions on the provisions and benefits of the new legislation.
New Law Addresses Data Protection Gaps
Coker-Odusote explained that the repealed NIMC Act lacked adequate data protection powers, which necessitated the 2023 Data Protection Act and the subsequent creation of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
“It may interest you to know that the new Data Protection Act that Mr President assented to was supported through collaboration with NIMC in 2021, leading to the establishment of the Data Protection Commission,” she said.
According to the director-general, the new NIMC Act empowers the commission, in collaboration with security agencies, to arrest and prosecute identity thieves.
“In line with this new mandate, we have recently revamped our internal enforcement structure through the Inspectorate, Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) Unit to ensure effective implementation of the Act,” she added.
Ward Enrolment Programme Underway
Coker-Odusote also disclosed that the commission had activated a ward enrolment programme aimed at expanding National Identification Number (NIN) registration to all wards across the country.
“It may interest you to know that the president gave us marching orders last year to kickstart the ward enrolment exercise, which we embarked upon on February 16,” she said.
She explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to ensure inclusive identity coverage for all Nigerians.
“We are rotating round all 8,009 wards, and this is why our partnership with NOA, which is also represented at the ward level, is very crucial in helping us disseminate information,” she noted.
Government Commits to Public Enlightenment
Responding, Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris commended Coker-Odusote for her leadership and the successful passage of the new legislation.
“We’ve all seen your enthusiasm to transform identity management in this country since you came on board as the DG of NIMC, and we have also seen that on the part of the NIMC team,” he said.
Idris stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment on the provisions of the Act, particularly at the grassroots, and called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to maximise its benefits.
“We have all the public information platforms in this country under this ministry, including the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and I want to assure you that these platforms will be available to support your sensitisation objectives,” the minister stated.
He noted that transparency in public service delivery depends largely on effective dissemination of information through credible communication channels.
NOA Pledges Support for Grassroots Sensitisation
Also present, NOA Director-General Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu revealed existing partnerships between the commission and his agency, urging NIMC to leverage the agency’s grassroots presence to fulfil its mandate.
“I hope you can come forward to see how we can achieve that as we are present in those areas you want to go and do your sensitisation and enlightenment,” he said.
Issa-Onilu noted that numerous people in rural areas remain unaware of what the new NIMC Act means for their livelihood, adding that “oftentimes, they do not even need the services that require the NIN.”
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— Elanza News
