By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has described the National Identity Management Commission NIMC as one of the clearest delivery stories of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing rising enrolment and deepening integration with banking, telecommunications and social protection systems.
Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, said Akume made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Day of Identity 2026, themed “Nigeria’s Digital Public Ecosystem: Powering Africa’s Digital Economy”.
“As the officer charged with coordinating government business across Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, I have watched this work closely. The National Identity Management Commission is one of this administration’s clearest delivery stories.
“The progress is real. Enrolment continues to rise. Integration with banking, telecommunications and social protection is deepening. The Commission is meeting the quiet, daily discipline this work requires. That is the kind of delivery this administration was elected to provide,” he added.
The SGF said Nigeria’s expanding digital identity infrastructure was strengthening the country’s position in Africa’s digital economy, providing a trusted foundation for banking, telecommunications, social protection and cross-border trade, with implications reaching beyond the country’s borders as trusted identity infrastructure could facilitate greater economic integration across the continent.
He noted that banks, fintech companies and cross-border traders increasingly rely on verified digital identity to facilitate access to markets, including opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Akume said the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, had provided a stronger legal foundation for the country’s identity management system, strengthened data protection and established NIMC as Nigeria’s root certification authority for identity, adding that innovations introduced before the new law, including NINAuth and self-service data modification, had already made it easier for Nigerians to verify their identities and manage their records.
He recalled his engagement with the Director General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, following the passage of the Act, saying the interaction reinforced his confidence in the direction of the Commission and the seriousness of its leadership and team.
“This Commission has my backing, and the backing of the office I represent. Wherever closer coordination is needed, and wherever obstacles must be cleared from this Commission’s path, my office stands ready. This project is too important to rest on one agency. It requires the full weight of government,” the SGF said.
He commended President Tinubu for assenting to the NIMC Act, 2026, describing the legislation as the modern legal footing required to sustain the reforms and deepen the country’s digital identity architecture.
Abuse expressed confidence that the reforms would continue to produce measurable results, saying every improvement in Nigeria’s identity infrastructure strengthens the country’s position and Africa’s participation in the global digital economy.
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