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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has handed over its Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) framework to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s digital identity ecosystem and enhancing the security of online transactions and public services.
The transfer, which includes assets, technology, and ongoing operations, is expected to provide the secure digital trust infrastructure required to support a modern, integrated, and highly secure national digital identity system.
Speaking during the formal handover ceremony at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said the move underscores the agency’s commitment to collaborating with institutions leveraging technology to drive national development.
He noted that NITDA had carried out extensive foundational work on Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), adding that the agency would continue to work closely with NIMC to ensure a seamless transition.
According to him, PKI serves as a critical technology that enables the creation, management, verification, and authentication of digital identities through digital certificates, ensuring secure, trusted, and encrypted digital communications and transactions.
Abdullahi explained that the handover aligns with the recently amended NIMC Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to harmonise identity databases across government institutions and position the National Identification Number (NIN) as the primary platform for identity verification, authentication, and public service delivery.
He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to supporting technology adoption across the country, stressing that the agency’s mandate goes beyond regulation to fostering innovation, collaboration, and inclusive digital transformation.
“As Nigeria’s apex IT regulator, our responsibility is to help every Nigerian adopt and benefit from technology. We will continue to support NIMC and every institution committed to digitising public services and improving citizens’ access to government services,” he said.
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The NITDA boss further described Digital Public Infrastructure as a critical national asset, saying it is as important to economic growth as physical infrastructure and must remain secure, reliable and accessible.
In her remarks, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described the transfer as a significant milestone in implementing the newly enacted NIMC Act, which replaces the commission’s nearly two-decade-old legal framework established in 2007.
She said the new legislation provides the legal foundation for Nigeria’s transition from a traditional identity database to a modern digital identity ecosystem that supports interoperability, security and efficiency across both public and private sector platforms.
According to her, the reform is anchored on the principle of “one person, one identity,” giving every Nigerian a unique, secure, and verifiable digital identity while moving away from the old card-based identity system towards secure digital credentials.
Coker-Odusote added that the updated law provides the legal backing for deploying PKI and other trust frameworks needed to secure digital interactions, noting that the transition would be implemented gradually to safeguard citizens’ data and maintain public confidence.
Both agencies pledged to deepen collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, with NIMC focusing on managing the country’s foundational identity infrastructure while NITDA continues to drive ecosystem development, regulation, and broader technology adoption.
They said the partnership would help build a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital economy capable of supporting efficient public service delivery and expanding access to trusted digital services for Nigerians.
