President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says Nigeria’s strengthened national identity management system is yielding significant security dividends, disclosing that the integration of government identity databases recently enabled security agencies to identify and apprehend suspected terrorist kingpins attempting to gain entry into the country.
Addressing State House correspondents after President Bola Tinubu signed into law the repealed and re-enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Akpabio said the new legislation would overhaul Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem, reinforcing national security, enhancing border control, and improving economic planning through a more robust and integrated identity management framework.
He revealed that the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database with the Ministry of Interior’s digital platforms recently enabled security agencies to identify and apprehend suspected terrorist operatives upon their arrival in Nigeria.
“The Minister of Interior has already started synchronising the NIMC together with other equipment that he has in his office. And they’re yielding results,” Akpabio said.
“Just last week, we were able to apprehend terrorist chiefs who were coming in from Saudi Arabia, in Katsina, of all places. When they landed, they just put their names on the computer; it brought out that these are criminals, and they arrested them.”
According to him, the reform marks a significant departure from an outdated legal framework that had remained largely unchanged for 19 years despite rapid advances in digital technology.
“With this Act of Parliament today, there will be a lot of improvement. This has brought Nigeria at par with the global community,” he said.
“I believe strongly that this will improve digital awareness in Nigeria, will help the economy, will help in infrastructural planning and will help in immigration and migration. At the end, I believe that Nigeria will be better for it. Digital identity will be better managed henceforth.”
Akpabio rejected claims that the National Assembly fast-tracked the legislation, stressing that lawmakers devoted nearly two years to extensive stakeholder consultations, public hearings, and a thorough review of international best practices before approving the bill.
“We had to go around to do public hearings, to send people outside Nigeria to find out what obtains in other climes. It wasn’t something we had to rush because we always want to ensure that any legislation we do outlives us.”
He added that the legislation forms part of the Tinubu administration’s wider security reforms, including the proposed introduction of state policing.
“We’ve done the same thing for 66 years, but the result is continuous insecurity in the country. So it’s important that… we all work together for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the presidential assent as a major milestone that would strengthen identity management and provide the foundation for a more secure Nigeria.
He said the amended Act empowers NIMC to harmonise identity records, synchronise government databases and improve interoperability among public institutions.
“It’s about identity management; it’s about harmonising identity, synchronising databases, and, of course, being able to ensure interoperability and the ability to have a secure handshake,” the minister said.
While declining to disclose operational details of the country’s security systems, Tunji-Ojo stressed the strategic importance of the legislation.
“I won’t be able to go into the details because you’re talking about operational details of the security architecture… But you can be sure that this is going to be the foundation of our security architecture.”
The minister also praised President Tinubu for assembling what he described as a competent team to drive reforms.
“The President is… a talent hunter. This is very evident in what NIMC has been able to do under the leadership of the DG and the supervising ministry.”
Also speaking, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, described the new law as a landmark reform that bridges a 19-year gap in Nigeria’s identity management framework.
“The presidential assent to the National Identity Management Commission Bill, which was repealed and re-enacted, is a landmark milestone achievement for this administration and Nigeria,” she said.
“What this bill will do is bridge that 19-year gap in line with technology best practices and digital transformation reforms globally.”
According to her, the amended Act strengthens interoperability across government platforms, enhances citizen authentication and verification, and reinforces digital trust across ministries, departments and agencies.
“What we have been able to achieve with this Act also is to ensure that digital trust is cemented in our administration and administrative efforts in driving digital transformation across Nigeria,” she said.
Coker-Odusote thanked President Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly for supporting the legislation, describing identity management as one of the administration’s flagship reforms.
“We’re very happy that NIMC and identity are one of the key reforms of this administration,” she added.
