The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has outlined the far-reaching benefits of the newly operational NIMC Act 2026, saying the legislation will strengthen revenue generation, improve national planning, enhance security and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Coker-Odusote stated this on Tuesday during separate visits by the NIMC management to the National Revenue Service (NRS) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Abuja as part of stakeholder engagements on the implementation of the new law.

She explained that the National Assembly repealed and re-enacted the NIMC Act 2007 after 19 years, providing Nigeria with a modern legal framework capable of addressing emerging realities in identity management and digital governance.

“Our law had not been updated in 19 years. Today, we have a modern legal framework that positions Nigeria for greater digital transformation,” she said.

According to the NIMC boss, the new Act empowers government institutions to rely on a trusted and unified identity system for delivering services, eliminating duplication of records, improving transparency and strengthening accountability across the public sector.

She noted that the reforms would support revenue mobilisation by enabling more accurate taxpayer identification and verification, while also reducing identity fraud and leakages in government transactions.

Coker-Odusote added that the legislation would enhance national planning by providing credible population and demographic data for evidence-based policymaking, budget preparation and social intervention programmes.

She further said the Act would improve security by making it easier for security agencies to verify identities and combat identity-related crimes, while also promoting financial inclusion by enabling more Nigerians to access banking and other digital services.

The NIMC Director-General also highlighted the law’s role in improving ease of doing business, saying trusted digital identity would simplify interactions between citizens, businesses and government institutions.

She credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with championing reforms that have modernised obsolete laws across critical sectors.

“The President has shown commitment to strengthening laws that had remained outdated for decades, and that is transforming governance,” she said.
Speaking on NIMC’s collaboration with the National Revenue Service, Coker-Odusote described the partnership as strategic to Nigeria’s economic development.

“NRS and NIMC will continue this collaboration to ensure every service requiring identity verification is anchored on digital trust for citizens,” she said.

She stressed that sustained collaboration with government institutions would ensure the full implementation of the NIMC Act 2026 and unlock its benefits for citizens, businesses and the economy through improved service delivery, stronger revenue administration and a more inclusive digital ecosystem.