President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the transfer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the federal ministry of communications and digital economy.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Uwa Suleiman, spokesman to the minister of communications and digital economy, on Monday.

The statement disclosed that the transfer is “an effort to ensure that synergy and effective ministry supervisory mechanism is put in place to coordinate, monitor and track the progress of federal government’s digital transformation initiatives”.

NIMC presently reports to the presidency and the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

It said the transfer was based on the president’s consideration for the role of NIMC towards the realisation of the objectives of the national digital economy policy and strategy for a digital Nigeria (NDEPS).

The statement also disclosed that Buhari’s directive on the transfer is an illustration of his vote of confidence in Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, based on an “unprecedented performance”.

The NIMC is said to have so far registered 41 million people for the national identity number (NIN) while the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has details of over 191 million mobile subscribers.

“Furthermore, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has recorded huge successes in the development and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), the country’s first codified data protection regulation.

“Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) also provides services to government agencies— Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.

“The need therefore for NIMC, NCC, NITDA and GBB to work closely together under the supervision of one ministry towards harnessing what has already been achieved cannot be overemphasised.

“The NIN, considered as social security as well as a civil number, is very important for economic planning and social intervention.

“With the federal government’s digitisation initiatives in line with the NDEPS, access to services and interventions will require it. We, therefore, urge all eligible individuals to enrol as soon as possible.”

Pantami assured that the appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that everyone has a chance to get registered.