Shettima Hails Tinubu’s Digital Identity Reforms, Says Nigeria’s Transformation Unmatched

Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing the reforms as unparalleled and critical to the country’s digital future.

Speaking on Wednesday while receiving the management of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), led by its Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Odusote, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima commended the commission’s efforts in repositioning Nigeria’s identity management system.

He attributed the progress to the reforms driven by the current NIMC leadership and the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026, which he said would pave the way for the establishment of a sovereign Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the country.

According to the Vice President, the reforms will accelerate Nigeria’s transition from paper-based administration to secure digital governance built on robust trust architecture.

Shettima described Odusote’s leadership in transforming NIMC from a database custodian into Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority within a short period as exceptional and worthy of commendation.

He urged the commission’s management to continue supporting the reforms and embrace technology-driven innovations to advance key pillars of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Vice President noted that the administration’s bold reforms across sectors such as education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and digital governance are designed to improve service delivery and enhance the lives of Nigerians.

Earlier, NIMC Director-General Engr. Abisoye Odusote congratulated President Tinubu on signing the NIMC Act 2026 into law, describing the legislation as a landmark step in the transformation of Nigeria’s identity ecosystem.

She explained that the new law enables interoperability among government databases, allowing agencies to share information seamlessly while making it easier for citizens to access government services.

Odusote disclosed that the Nigerian Immigration Service now uses the National Identification Number (NIN) for passport issuance and renewal, adding that the NIN has become the country’s single source of truth for identity verification.

She further revealed that insurance companies, financial institutions and several government agencies have already integrated into the new national Digital Public Infrastructure.

President Tinubu recently signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, replacing the 2007 legislation and laying the legal foundation for a sovereign digital identity framework aimed at strengthening national control over digital trust infrastructure while reducing reliance on foreign systems.