Shettima Hails NIMC Digital Identity Transformation Under Tinubu

Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised the ongoing NIMC digital identity transformation under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the process as unrivalled in Nigeria’s history.

Shettima made the remark on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), led by its Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Odusote, during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Vice President attributed the progress in Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem to the reforms being implemented by NIMC’s current management, particularly following the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026.

He said the reorganisation would pave the way for the establishment of a sovereign Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Nigeria and accelerate the transition from paper-based administration to secure digital governance built on robust trust architectures.

Shettima commended Engr. Odusote’s leadership, saying her impact in transforming NIMC from a database custodian into Nigeria’s foundational digital authority within a short period was unprecedented and worthy of recognition.

He urged the Commission’s management team to support the Director-General’s transformative agenda and adopt more technology-driven models to advance key components of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the Tinubu administration is taking bold decisions across sectors that will positively impact Nigerians through improved education, healthcare delivery, financial inclusion, and secure digital governance.

Earlier, NIMC Director-General Engr. Odusote congratulated President Tinubu for signing the NIMC Bill into law, describing the legislation as a major milestone in Nigeria’s identity ecosystem.

She explained that the law would enable government databases to communicate seamlessly with one another, allowing citizens to interact with government services more efficiently.

Odusote highlighted that the Nigerian Immigration Service now uses the National Identification Number (NIN) for the issuance and renewal of passports.

She added that the NIN has become the single source of truth for Nigerian identity, with many insurance companies, financial institutions, and public agencies already integrated into the new national digital public infrastructure.

The NIMC Act 2026, signed into law by President Tinubu, is designed to transition Nigeria’s identity framework from the restrictive 2007 Act to a modern, sovereign digital public infrastructure that secures national control over digital trust infrastructure and reduces foreign reliance.