NIMC, IT firms push for secure digital government services

Nigeria's National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and various technology firms are calling for the rapid digitization of government services, stressing the critical role of strong cybersecurity and a reliable digital identity system. This integrated approach is deemed essential for enhancing public service delivery, bolstering national security, and stimulating economic growth.

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Without any professional digital public infrastructure system, a viable identity system, governments will continue to struggle to deliver services effectively. Financial institutions will face heightened risks. Businesses will suffer unnecessary costs.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of NIMC, stated at the ITGov Nigeria 2026 summit that effective digital public infrastructure hinges on a trusted digital identity. She warned that nations lacking dependable identity systems would struggle to provide services, leaving financial institutions, businesses, and citizens vulnerable to fraud, inefficiency, and exclusion. Coker-Odusote highlighted that the NIMC Act 2026 has repositioned the commission as a key enabler of Nigeria's digital economy, establishing it as the certification authority for national public infrastructure.

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Technically, we are now the home of digital trust.

This transformation positions NIMC as the "home of digital trust," supporting secure authentication, electronic signatures, and digital trust services across public and private sectors. According to Coker-Odusote, this will significantly improve cybersecurity, reduce online fraud, and increase confidence in Nigeria's digital ecosystem. A secure digital identity framework is expected to enhance governance through transparent service delivery, minimize identity fraud, lower compliance costs, and allow citizens to access services using a single verifiable digital credential. The NIMC chief also linked digital identity to national security, noting its potential to improve intelligence gathering, aid law enforcement, and strengthen resilience against cybercrime and identity theft.

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This milestone will significantly upgrade our cybersecurity posture, mitigate online fraud, and bolster confidence in Nigeria’s entire digital ecosystem.