NIMC Fires Back: National Identity Database Is Active, Refutes Defence Minister's Claim
By Aboki Forex —
The National Identity Management Commission has rejected claims that Nigeria lacks a functional national identity database. It called the assertion misleading and out of touch with reality.
In a statement, NIMC spokesperson Kayode Adegoke said the database is fully operational, secure, and actively used for identity verification, authentication, and service delivery nationwide.
NIMC said the database holds records of over 130 million Nigerians, each with a unique National Identification Number. It was set up under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
The Commission was reacting to comments by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, who said on Saturday that a weak national database has undermined efforts to fight insecurity, kidnapping, and other crimes.
NIMC added that it has expanded the system's storage capacity from 100 million to 250 million records. This is to support wider national coverage and future enrollment growth.
“NIMC is statutorily mandated to establish, own, operate, maintain, and manage the National Identity Database,” the statement read. “This centralised database is the single source of identity verification for Nigeria.”