News
FG Intensifies Nationwide Digital Identity Enrolment Through Information Ministry-NIMC Partnership
FG Intensifies Nationwide Digital Identity Enrolment Through Information Ministry-NIMC Partnership
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to achieve universal digital identity enrolment across the country through a strengthened partnership between the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team on a courtesy visit to present the landmark provisions and strategic implications of the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026.
The Minister said a strong and inclusive national identity system remains indispensable to effective governance, national planning, financial inclusion, digital transformation and the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Identity management is at the heart of the reform agenda of Mr. President, because if you are reforming, you have to know who you are reforming for. If you don’t know the number of people that you have and the demography and what they represent, how do you plan for them?” the Minister said.
Commending the leadership of Dr. Coker-Odusote, the Minister praised the Commission’s transformation over the past three years, noting that the enrolment of over 136 million Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database represents significant progress toward building a reliable national identity ecosystem. “The 136 million already captured is very significant, but we still have about 100 million Nigerians left, and they also ought to be captured. Every Nigerian deserves to be included in our national planning,” he stated.
The Minister stressed that achieving universal identity coverage requires sustained public enlightenment and grassroots mobilisation, urging NIMC to deepen its collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), whose presence in all the 774 Local Government Areas provides an effective platform for reaching every Nigerian. “The National Orientation Agency is your best bet for reaching the grassroots. Please deepen your collaboration with NOA so that together we can ensure every Nigerian understands the importance of identity management,” he said.
He also applauded the Commission for maintaining a secure identity ecosystem without any reported data breach, assuring NIMC that all public communication platforms under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, including the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), would be fully deployed to support nationwide sensitisation on the benefits of digital identity.
“I am happy to hear that you have not had a single data breach. Data privacy, transparency and public confidence are essential to the success of digital identity management, and we will continue to make all the communication platforms under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation available to support your public enlightenment efforts,” the Minister added.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to support NIMC’s nationwide enrolment campaign through its extensive grassroots network. “We know we’ve been working together, but I hope you will be coming forward so we can see how we can assist you, because we are present in those areas where you want to go and carry out public enlightenment and sensitisation,” Mallam Issa-Onilu said.
He added that the Agency would continue to work closely with NIMC to ensure that citizens in rural and underserved communities understand the importance of obtaining a National Identification Number (NIN) and are not excluded from government programmes and services.
Responding, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 modernises Nigeria’s identity management framework by incorporating provisions on data protection, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and digital trust while positioning NIMC as the country’s foundational digital identity authority.
“The President gave us marching orders to commence the ward enrolment exercise because he wanted the people in the rural areas and at the community level not to be disenfranchised from any government intervention programme,” Dr. Coker-Odusote said.
She disclosed that the Commission has commenced a nationwide ward-by-ward enrolment campaign across Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards in line with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure that every Nigerian—including women, children, persons with disabilities, rural dwellers, refugees, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora—is captured in the National Identity Database. She added that NIMC is working closely with security agencies and relevant institutions to combat identity fraud, strengthen digital trust and promote a secure digital economy.
Presenting the highlights of the new legislation, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, described the Act as a landmark reform that fundamentally redefines Nigeria’s identity management architecture. “NIMC has evolved from a database custodian to Nigeria’s foundational identity authority. NIMC is now the only authorised commission for digital identity management in Nigeria,” Dr. Adegoke stated.
He explained that the legislation establishes the legal framework for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), stronger data privacy protections and wider application of the National Identification Number across government and private sector services.
He added that the Commission has successfully integrated with more than 250 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) while introducing digital innovations that have significantly improved service delivery and reduced enrolment time for Nigerians.
Ministry of Information
The courtesy visit was attended by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu; the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote; the Director of Production, Publication and Documentation, Mr. Ibidapo Okunnu; the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Ms. Fatoke Folasade; alongside other senior management staff of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and officials of the National Identity Management Commission.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation
Wednesday, 8 July, 2026
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EFCC Arraigns ALSCON, Director for Alleged N582.43m Money Launderin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 12, 2026, arraigned Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, plc, and its Director, Zavyalov Dmitry, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged money laundering offences involving N582,430,250.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira).
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The company and its director were arraigned on a six-count amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/644/2025. Dmitry is said to be at large.
According to the charge, the company, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession, DNFBP, and Its Director, Dmitry, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) single transfers made from the company’s account between March and July 2024, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The transfers include N147,515,050.00 in March 2024, N156,026,860.00 in April 2024, N121,425,200.00 in May 2024 and N127,338,190.00 in July 2024, all paid to UDATSON NIGERIA. Others are N15,124,950.00 paid to Urico Global Services in April 2024 and N15,000,000.00 paid to one Christopher Azogu in June 2024.
Count one reads: “That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Limited, plc, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in March, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N147,515,050.00 (One Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Fifty Naira) paid into UDATSON NIGERIA from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.”
Count two: “That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria, plc, a. Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in April, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N156,026,860.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira) paid into UDATSON NIGERIA from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.”
Count four of the charge sheet reads, “That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in May, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N121,425,200.00 (One Hundred and Twenty One Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) paid into Udatson Nigeria from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.”
EFCC
Lead counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the offences are punishable under sections 11(3), 19(2)(b) and 22 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
When the charges were read, the company’s Acting Managing Director, Ime Monday Inyang, pleaded not guilty to all six counts on its behalf.
Counsel to the company had asked the court to quash the charges, claiming that the company was innocent of the charges.
In view of the plea, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to January 27, 2027 for commencement of trial.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
October 12, 2026
Eereporter.com
News
Taiwo Oyedele, Cardoso Meet World Bank President Banga on Nigeria’s Shift From Stability to Growth
Taiwo Oyedele, Cardoso Meet World Bank President Banga on Nigeria’s Shift From Stability to Growth
Bangkok, 12 October 2026. The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, met the President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, on Monday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, where Oyedele leads Nigeria’s delegation.
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The meeting reviewed Nigeria’s reform progress and the next phase of its agenda: turning macroeconomic stability into faster growth, more private investment and stronger domestic revenues.
Banga commended the progress of Nigeria’s reforms. He pointed to the rise in private capital inflows from about $300 million in 2023 to nearly $6 billion in 2026, a twentyfold increase.
Oyedele highlighted the rising economic growth and noted that Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio rose from about 7 per cent to 12.5 per cent over the same period. This gives the government more room to fund public investment without resorting to deficit monetisation.
The meeting discussed how Nigeria can make greater use of World Bank guarantee instruments. These guarantees can unlock financing for infrastructure and draw more private capital into the domestic market.
Power infrastructure and human capital were identified as priorities for continued public investment, given their importance to business competitiveness, productivity and job creation. The meeting also stressed the quality of public spending, so that each naira delivers measurable economic and social returns.
Taiwo Oyedele, Cardoso
The meeting is part of the Federal Government’s wider engagement with development partners to lock in reform gains and attract new investment. As Nigeria moves from stability to growth, the priority is to turn stronger fundamentals into productive investment, more jobs and better living standards for Nigerians.
Efe Ovuakporie
Head of Media
Federal Ministry of Finance
12 October 2026
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High Court Dismisses Aisha Achimugu’s Fundamental Rights Suit Against EFCC
Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a fundamental human rights suit filed by Abuja-based businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
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In the originating suit no : FHC/ABJ/CS/466/2026, Achimugu approached the court for determination of whether the defendant, EFCC’s action of searching her house and seizing her cars and jewelries and other items was within the powers of the Commission.
Achimugu also asked the court to enforce her rights to privacy, including an order of the court restraining the defendant from threatening or harassing and invading her private residence.
Part of her claim was for the court to award a N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) damage against the EFCC for what she described as invasion of her privacy.
Delivering judgment in the suit on Monday, October 10, 2026, Justice Liman dismissed the suit and held that the defendant has the power to search the plaintiff’s property after receiving intelligence on the alleged criminal activities of the plaintiff. “EFCC has the right to search the residence,” he said.
The judge said that Achimugu and her legal representatives failed to show reason to warrant the kind of damage she demanded from the EFCC and equally dismissed the request for N10 billion damages.
On the whole, Justice Liman agreed that there was nothing that should have stopped the EFCC from carrying out its statutory duties. The court therefore held that the matter lacked merit and was dismissed because “ it is frivolous and it was brought in bad faith”. The damage she sought was also denied.
Federal High Court
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the EFCC, Emenike Mgbemele said the judgment was in the interest of justice, adding that the suit was a ploy to waste the time of the court.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
October 12, 2026
Eereporter.com
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