NITDA Hands Over Digital Identity Security Infrastructure to NIMC
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has transferred its Public Key Infrastructure framework to the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and enhancing the security of electronic transactions across the country.
The handover took place during a courtesy visit by the leadership of NIMC to the NITDA headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the transfer of the assets, technology and ongoing operations underscored the agency’s commitment to collaborating with institutions deploying technology for national development.
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He noted that NITDA had undertaken extensive work on Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure, adding that the agency would continue to work closely with NIMC to ensure a seamless transition.
Inuwa explained that the Public Key Infrastructure provides the security architecture required to create, manage, verify and authenticate digital identities through digital certificates, ensuring secure and trusted digital communications and transactions.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the recently amended NIMC Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to harmonise identity databases across government institutions and establish the National Identification Number, NIN, as the country’s primary means of identity verification, authentication and access to public services.
The NITDA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting institutions driving digital transformation, stressing that its mandate extends beyond regulation to promoting innovation, collaboration and inclusive technology adoption.
He described Digital Public Infrastructure as a critical national asset, saying it is as important to economic development as physical infrastructure and must remain secure, reliable and accessible.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, commended NITDA for the collaboration, describing the transfer as a significant milestone in implementing the newly enacted NIMC Act.
She said the legislation replaces the commission’s nearly two-decade-old legal framework established in 2007 and provides the legal foundation for Nigeria’s transition from a traditional identity database to a secure digital identity ecosystem.
According to Coker-Odusote, the new framework is designed to promote interoperability, improve efficiency and strengthen security across both public and private sector platforms.
She explained that the transition would move Nigeria away from conventional card-based identity systems to secure digital credentials built on the principle of “one person, one identity,” giving every Nigerian a unique and verifiable digital identity.
The NIMC boss added that the commission would implement the new framework in phases to ensure adequate protection of citizens’ data and sustain public confidence in the system.
