The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have agreed to deepen collaboration on digital identity as part of efforts to strengthen governance, improve security and accelerate ongoing reforms in Nigeria's solid minerals sector.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this while receiving the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and members of the Commission's management team during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Alake described NIMC as a critical institution in Nigeria's development architecture, stressing that effective governance is impossible without a credible identity management system.
"NIMC occupies a critical position in translating policy into reality. It is pivotal to the development of any nation because governance today is driven by data, technology and credible identity systems," the minister said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise.
He noted that the Federal Government's ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector require stronger collaboration with institutions such as NIMC to improve transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight across the mining value chain.
According to him, digital identity will play a key role in tracking mining operations, curbing illegal activities and strengthening security in the sector.
"Without identification, we cannot trace; we cannot track, and insecurity will flourish. In the solid minerals sector, we need effective tracking of both legal and illegal operations. A credible identity ecosystem will strengthen regulation, improve enforcement and support our efforts to sanitise the sector," Alake stated.
The minister added that technology, data gathering, statistics and digital identity have become indispensable tools for evidence-based policymaking, efficient licensing, investment promotion and national development.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote said the recently enacted NIMC Act, 2026 has positioned Nigeria to fully embrace a digital governance ecosystem and creates fresh opportunities for collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
She explained that integrating digital identity into the mining sector would facilitate database integration among government institutions, strengthen regulatory compliance, improve security and law enforcement, enhance monitoring of mining operators and support the implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in host communities.
Coker-Odusote added that NIMC's digital identity infrastructure would enable government agencies to build more reliable databases, improve service delivery and promote greater transparency in public administration.
Both organisations pledged to strengthen collaboration through technology-driven initiatives aimed at supporting ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector, improving governance, reinforcing security and promoting sustainable development.
The meeting also highlighted the significance of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for Nigeria's digital identity ecosystem.
According to both parties, the legislation is expected to accelerate secure identity verification, improve inter-agency data integration, enhance public service delivery, strengthen law enforcement, promote transparency and accountability, and provide a solid foundation for a modern digital economy by ensuring every eligible Nigerian and legal resident has a trusted digital identity.
.