Nigeria’s minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has revealed how National Identity Management Commission, NIMC security operatives arrested seven suspected terrorists returning from Hajj Pilgrimage at the Katsina airport.
He revealed that the existing network of databases was used in the arrest of some terrorists returning to Nigeria from the ‘Holy Pilgrimage’ last week with the support of the National Identity Management Commission.
Presidential spokesman,
Bayo Onanuga disclosed this on Friday night in a statement where he confirmed the signing of the 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act into law, by President Bola Tinubu.
“Let me sincerely thank Mr President, the last time we had a NIMC programme, I referred to Mr President as the Grand Innovator of the Federal Republic. I wasn’t kidding. With this law, our security architecture can be enhanced.
“When Mr President came on board, we had a disconnected system within our identity data management system.
“At that time, getting a passport and getting a driving permit were completely disconnected from our identity database. But today, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC,” Tunji-Ojo said.
According to the minister, the new law will accelerate the harmonization of identity databases, enhance the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN) system, improve inter-agency collaboration, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat identity theft, terrorism, financial crimes and other security threats.
“What you have in immigration is what you have in the NIMC database, and let me say this clearly, that it has even helped our border control process.
“I know, sometime ago, the Senate President was alarmed by how some terrorists went on pilgrimage, wondering how they crossed our borders. We inherited a fractured system.
“But I’m happy to tell you that even last week, Thursday, seven of the known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP at the point of coming back from Mecca were arrested in Katsina at the airport and were handed over to the DSS.
“This is only possible because NIMC’s ID is already connected with the immigration database, and it’s already speaking to even the Interpol 24/7, and we have been able to automate this,” the minister stated.
The minister said the President’s assent marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise identity management, enhance national security, improve public service delivery, and deepen the nation’s digital economy.
The signing took place at the State House, Abuja, in the presence of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the representative of the World Bank, Taimur Samad; and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, witnessed the signing.
