NIMC Targets Diaspora Expansion as Tinubu’s UK Visit Boosts Digital Identity Drive

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s push to build a robust and inclusive digital identity system has gained fresh momentum, as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) unveiled plans to significantly expand National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment among citizens living abroad.

The development comes on the heels of the ongoing state visit of Bola Tinubu the United Kingdom, where top government officials, including NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote, are leveraging high-level engagements to deepen cooperation in digital innovation and identity management.

While the visit, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, carries strong diplomatic symbolism, it is also serving as a springboard for concrete policy actions, particularly in bridging identity gaps for millions of Nigerians in the diaspora.

A statement on Wednesday by the Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Kayode Adegoke read that at the centre of NIMC’s renewed push is an aggressive expansion of NIN enrolment infrastructure across the UK, widely regarded as one of the largest hubs of Nigerian migrants.

He said the plan includes opening additional enrolment centres, streamlining verification processes, and deploying more efficient digital platforms to eliminate long-standing bottlenecks.

Coker-Odusote, speaking during engagements on the sidelines of the visit, stressed that the Commission is determined to remove barriers that have historically limited access to identity services for Nigerians overseas.

“We are taking deliberate steps to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of location, can seamlessly obtain their NIN and access essential services tied to it,” she said, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to inclusivity.

The implications of the initiative are far-reaching. A functional and accessible NIN system is increasingly central to participation in Nigeria’s financial system, telecommunications services, and government programmes. For diaspora Nigerians, improved access means the ability to stay economically and administratively connected to the country without physical presence.

Industry observers note that the timing of the initiative is critical, as Nigeria accelerates its transition to a digitally driven economy where identity verification underpins everything from banking to social welfare delivery.

Back home, NIMC is mirroring its international expansion with a parallel grassroots strategy aimed at closing the identity gap within Nigeria. Through ward-level enrolment campaigns, the Commission is taking registration services directly to rural and underserved communities, reducing travel burdens and improving coverage among vulnerable populations.

The dual approach, global expansion and local penetration, signals a shift from policy ambition to execution, with identity infrastructure now firmly positioned as a cornerstone of governance and economic planning.

As Nigeria strengthens its diplomatic and economic ties with the UK, stakeholders noted that the integration of identity management into bilateral discussions reflects a broader recognition: in an increasingly digital world, national development is inseparable from the ability to accurately identify and connect citizens, wherever they may be

NIMC Targets Diaspora Expansion as Tinubu’s UK Visit Boosts Digital Identity Drive

ISWAP death toll rises to 75 after devastating defeat in Malam Fatori

By: Zagazola Makama

The death toll of terrorists neutralised during a failed infiltration attempt on troops’ position in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno, has risen to 75, in what security analysts describe as one of the most decisive recent blows against the Islamic State West Africa Province.

Zagazola report that the Initial reports had put the number of insurgents killed at 61, following a coordinated response by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force.

However, updated battlefield assessments and mop-up operations indicate that at least 75 fighters were neutralised, with several others believed to have escaped with severe injuries.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, saw ISWAP fighters advancing on foot toward the 68 Battalion location, reportedly deploying armed drones in an attempt to breach defensive lines. The infiltration, launched from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company frontage, was swiftly detected and repelled.

Military sources said the success of the operation was anchored on superior coordination between air and ground forces, illustrating the growing effectiveness of joint-force synergy in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

Four precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on identified terrorist withdrawal routes effectively degrading their combat capability and disrupting their manoeuvre.

The integration of air power ensured that the insurgents were fixed in position and subjected to sustained bombardment, forcing a chaotic withdrawal toward the Arege axis.

Further compounding the losses of the terrorists group was the intervention of allied air assets from the Niger Republic, which carried out additional strike passes on fleeing terrorists.Although a full battle damage assessment of those strikes is still ongoing, security sources believe the combined firepower significantly increased the casualty figures.

In addition to the high number of fatalities, troops reportedly recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the battlefield, further weakening the operational capacity of the group in the Lake Chad region.

On the side of government forces, four soldiers sustained minor injuries and have since been stabilised.

ISWAP death toll rises to 75 after devastating defeat in Malam Fatori

3 bandits, 11 community guards killed in bloody clash in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than three suspected bandits and 11 members of a local vigilante group have been killed in a violent clash between communities and repentant bandits in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, followed the collapse of a peace arrangement between residents of Falale and Kadobe villages and a group of repentant bandits operating in the area.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the confrontation began at about 12:00 p.m. when tensions escalated into a fierce exchange, leading to the killing of three of the bandits.

The development, however, triggered a swift reprisal attack by the armed group, resulting in the deaths of 11 vigilante members drawn from the affected communities.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident, noting that security operatives were immediately deployed to the scene upon receipt of the report.

Similarly, a joint teams of the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, police and other security agencies engaged community leaders and stakeholders to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence.

“Normalcy has been restored in the area, while investigation into the incident has commenced,” the sources said.

The clash is believed to be linked to a breakdown in trust between the communities and the repentant bandits, amid ongoing efforts by the state government to explore non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity in parts of the state.

Residents said the situation remains tense, although security presence has been reinforced to forestall further attacks.

3 bandits, 11 community guards killed in bloody clash in Katsina