The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill mandating the compulsory registration of citizens, aiming to overhaul Nigeria’s identity management system through the repeal and reenactment of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act.
The passage came after the Committee on National Identity Card and Population, led by Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central, submitted and reviewed a report.
Umeh clarified that the proposed legislation aims to create a unified, cost-efficient identity system that meets global standards, improves data accuracy, fosters inclusion, and addresses gaps in Nigeria’s identity database.
Once enacted, the bill will establish a centralized database and a commission responsible for citizen registration and identity card issuance. It is now awaiting review by the House of Representatives before being sent to the President for approval.
