The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and leading technology firms have called for the accelerated digitisation of government services, backed by strong cybersecurity and secure digital identity systems to improve public service delivery, strengthen national security and boost economic growth, Peak Newspaper reports.
The call was made on Wednesday at the ITGov Nigeria 2026 Summit in Abuja, organised by Tranter IT in collaboration with ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation.
Speaking at the summit, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said a trusted digital identity system remains the foundation of effective digital public infrastructure.
She warned that countries without reliable identity systems would continue to face challenges in delivering efficient public services while exposing citizens, businesses and financial institutions to fraud and inefficiency.
Coker-Odusote said the NIMC Act 2026 has repositioned the commission as a key driver of Nigeria’s digital economy by establishing it as the country’s certification authority for national public infrastructure. She explained that the framework would support secure electronic authentication, digital signatures and other trust services, while strengthening cybersecurity and reducing identity fraud.
She added that a secure digital identity ecosystem would enhance governance by promoting transparency, reducing compliance costs, improving intelligence gathering and supporting law enforcement efforts against cybercrime and financial crimes. According to her, NIMC’s vision is to ensure every resident has a secure digital identity that guarantees seamless access to government and private sector services.
