The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has called for the rapid adoption of secure digital identity systems as the foundation for Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation, warning that effective e-government services cannot thrive without trusted identity infrastructure.
The commission made the call on Wednesday at the ITGov Nigeria 2026 Summit in Abuja, where government officials and technology firms stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity, digital trust and integrated technology to improve public service delivery.
Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said a reliable digital identity system is essential for delivering efficient government services, reducing fraud and strengthening national security.
According to her, the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 has repositioned the commission as Nigeria’s national certification authority for digital public infrastructure, enabling secure electronic authentication, digital signatures and trusted online transactions.
She noted that the framework would boost confidence in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, reduce identity-related fraud and allow citizens to access multiple government and private sector services through a single secure digital identity.
Coker-Odusote also linked digital identity to improved intelligence gathering, law enforcement and the fight against cybercrime, stressing that sustained investment in cybersecurity and institutional capacity remains critical to protecting citizens’ data.
Speaking at the summit, Executive Chairman of Tranter IT, Dr. Lare Ayoola, urged government agencies to embrace integrated digital platforms capable of automating processes, reducing paperwork and delivering faster public services.
He said full digitisation could reduce service delivery timelines from several months to as little as one week, while improving transparency, lowering governance costs and enhancing the ease of doing business.
Ayoola, however, stressed that increased digitisation must be matched with stronger cybersecurity systems, effective database management and strict compliance with data privacy regulations.
Also speaking, Associate Director for Africa Sales and Channels at ManageEngine, Solomon Raj, said more Nigerian ministries and government agencies have adopted the company’s enterprise IT solutions in recent years to automate operations and transition to paperless services.
He identified limited technology awareness and reliance on outdated legacy systems as major barriers to digital transformation, calling for greater investment in modern IT infrastructure across the public sector.
