Abuja: The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has announced that a partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will assist in tracking operations within the solid minerals sector. Alake made this statement during a meeting with a delegation from NIMC, led by Director-General Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lara Owoeye-Wise, stated that the collaboration between the ministry and NIMC aims to promote digital identity in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. This partnership is designed to strengthen governance, enhance security, and accelerate reforms across the sector. Dr Alake highlighted the need for proper identification to effectively trace and track operations, thereby preventing insecurity in the sector.
Alake emphasized the importance of technology, statistics, data gathering, and digital identity as critical tools for evidence-based policymaking, improved regulatory oversight, efficient licensing, investment promotion, and national development. He noted that the ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector require robust collaboration with institutions like NIMC to enhance transparency and accountability throughout the mining value chain.
The Director-General of NIMC, Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, pointed out that the newly enacted NIMC Act positions Nigeria to fully embrace a digital governance ecosystem. She explained that integrating identity management into the solid minerals sector would facilitate database integration across government institutions, enhance regulatory compliance, and bolster security and law enforcement efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that both parties have expressed a strong commitment to strengthening their collaboration through technology-driven initiatives to support the ministry’s ongoing reforms. The partnership is expected to improve governance, reinforce security, and contribute to sustainable development within Nigeria’s mining sector.
The meeting also underscored the significance of the recently signed NIMC Act, 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. The Act is anticipated to accelerate secure identity verification, improve inter-agency data integration, and enhance public service delivery. It is expected to strengthen law enforcement, promote transparency and accountability, and lay a solid foundation for a modern digital economy. By providing every eligible Nigerian and legal resident with a trusted digital identity, the legislation marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards more efficient, technology-driven governance.