Ministry of Defence, NIMC Partner to Strengthen Data Integrity, National Security
Oru Leonard
The Federal Ministry of Defence and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have agreed to deepen collaboration on the implementation of the NIMC Act 2026, with a focus on enhancing data integrity, identity verification, and national security.
The commitment was made on Sunday when the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), received the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team at the Ship House in Abuja.
General Musa said integrated digital identity systems are critical to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, stressing that accurate and reliable data is indispensable for effective defence operations and intelligence gathering.
According to him, modern security operations depend on the ability to accurately identify individuals, noting that threats can originate from both external and internal sources.
“For us in the security sector, data is critical—to know who we are dealing with, who we are expecting, and even those within us, because sometimes the enemy is within. It is therefore vital for us to be able to identify everyone accurately,” the minister said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting government institutions in line with its mandate to strengthen national security and improve inter-agency cooperation.
Earlier, NIMC Director General, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the visit was aimed at advancing discussions on the strategic implementation of the NIMC Act 2026 and its role in reinforcing Nigeria’s security architecture.
She noted that an integrated and trusted digital identity ecosystem would improve identity verification, support defence operations, and facilitate seamless intelligence sharing among government agencies.
Both parties agreed that closer collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and NIMC would enhance national security through a secure, interoperable, and reliable digital identity framework capable of supporting law enforcement and defence institutions across the country.
