Nigeria’s digital identity verification system is set for broader adoption across public services following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive mandating the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) across government digital platforms, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said.

The Commission says the Presidential Directive, issued on April 5, 2024, marks a major policy shift that places the NIN at the centre of identity verification, biometric authentication and data capture across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a move expected to strengthen trust in digital transactions and improve access to services nationwide.

Speaking at a digital conference themed “Building Africa’s Digital Foundations Together” in Abuja, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, said the Commission is intensifying efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity architecture as part of the country’s wider Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) agenda.

Represented at the event by Mr. Sulaiman Falade, Head of Infrastructure Technology and Identity Databases (IT/IDD) at NIMC, the Director-General said the directive effectively makes the NIN the foundational credential for identity verification across Nigeria’s expanding digital ecosystem.

For Nigerians, the expanded NIN mandate means identity verification is expected to become increasingly standardised when accessing government services and a growing range of digital platforms, while businesses and institutions will be able to rely on stronger identity authentication infrastructure.

NIN as enabler for digital authentication of identity in Nigeria

 “Central to the DPI transformation is the National Identification Number (NIN), which has become a critical enabler for digital authentication, identity verification, and access to government and private sector services,” Coker-Odusote said.

According to NIMC, the directive requires MDAs to integrate and effectively use the NIN in policies and systems tied to data capture, identity verification and biometric authentication across digital services.

 “In line with the Presidential Directive issued on April 5, 2024, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been mandated to ensure the effective use of the NIN in driving policies related to data capture, identity verification, and biometric authentication across all digital services. NIMC has put in place structures to ensure effective implementation,” she said.

The Commission says the directive is expected to create a more unified identity verification framework across government, reducing duplication of identity records, improving service efficiency and enabling agencies to authenticate citizens through a common trusted system.

For Nigerians, the expanded NIN mandate means identity verification is expected to become increasingly standardised when accessing government services and a growing range of digital platforms, while businesses and institutions will be able to rely on stronger identity authentication infrastructure.

NIMC also said it is reinforcing trust in the digital identity ecosystem through the rollout of the National Public Key Infrastructure (nPKI), a security framework designed to support safer electronic transactions and digital communications while protecting citizens’ personal data.

The Commission says the broader reforms align with Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure strategy, which aims to strengthen governance, improve national security and expand access to efficient public services through interoperable digital systems.

Coker-Odusote said NIMC remains committed to leveraging innovation and secure digital identity systems to support national development, while calling for deeper collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.

According to her, sustained partnership will be critical to ensuring that Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure delivers improved transparency, accountability and service delivery outcomes as the Federal Government accelerates digital transformation initiatives nationwide.