NIMC To Capture 95% Of Nigerians Before December 2025 – DG

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the director-general of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has stated the organization’s ambitious plan to add 95% of Nigerians to the National Identity Database before December 2025.

Coker-Odusote stated at a briefing in Abuja that the objective is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in terms of digital governance and inclusive development.

She claims that the widespread enrollment drive will be fueled by robust public awareness campaigns, expanded registration centers, and improved infrastructure.

Also read: Spotify CEO, AI Not A Threat, Will Spur More Music Creativity, and &nbsp

She stated, “We have already started the Ward Enrollment Exercise to have at least 95% of Nigerians registered by December 31.”

Over 85 million Nigerians were enrolled as of May 2025, according to NIMC, but this figure still falls short of the over 220 million people who are thought to be in the country. Coker-Odusote noted that the Commission is diligently pursuing this goal.

The NIMC boss claimed that when the ongoing Ward Enrollment Exercise is finished, the government will be able to accurately forecast the number of Nigerians, which will aid in effective planning for the citizens.

Coker-Odusote addressed the issue of public trust and data security, noting that it is possible that people may have some issues with trust. However, the commission has taken several steps to make sure Nigerians can have confidence in their data.

She claims that one of the things NIMC has done to increase trust is to return the data to the users, giving them access to their data and allowing them to choose when and how to share it for any service needed. This includes user consent management, which enables individuals to access their data and choose when and how to share it.

She adds that the agency has collaborated with security organizations to combat and detain all those who create fake NIN websites.

Additionally, NIMC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) work together to train all employees in handling data, particularly enrolment officers.

We want to ensure that all of their frontend partners and verification partners are certified by the Data Protection Commission, adding that this will help us foster trust and enable you to know that those who handle your data are also certified experts.

She further disclosed that NIMC has increased its back-end cybersecurity to ensure no one is harmed by data breaches.

Coker-Odusote said the NIMC is working to make sure all the government ministries, divisions, and organizations in Nigeria do not operate in silos any longer.

Based on used cases that we have identified under their jurisdiction, “we have been working very hard on integrating with all ministries, departments, and agencies,” she said.

The commission wants to launch its “Public Key Infrastructure,” which strengthens trust, particularly within the MDAs, according to the NIMC DG.

Trump brushes aside Elon Musk’s criticisms of his signature budget bill

Elon Musk, a senior government official, has criticized Donald Trump for releasing his comprehensive budget proposal, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Trump was quizzed about Musk’s comments, which suggested the bill would increase the country’s debt, on Wednesday at a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office.

Despite vehemently defending the bill’s tax cuts, the Republican leader reacted with a degree of ambivalence.

Trump stated, “We will be negotiating that bill, and I’m thrilled by some aspects of it, but I’m not happy about some of it.” That is their practice, they say.

The Trump administration’s budget bill has more than a thousand pages, and it includes a number of domestic policy priorities.

That includes legislation that strengthens some of the tax cuts that Trump supported in his first year as president, in 2017. Additionally, it would increase the funds for Trump’s “mass deportation” campaign and increased border security.

For instance, some $46.5 billion would be used to renew the southern border wall and other barriers, another Trump hallmark during his first term in office.

However, the bill proposes policies that are still contentious on both sides of the political spectrum to pay for those policy priorities and tax cuts.

For instance, one rule would increase the federal debt cap by $4 trillion. Other countries would impose stringent work standards for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is a government program for low-income Americans, and Medicaid.

Cost savings are anticipated because of these work requirements, which prevent thousands of people from having access to those safety-net programs. However, critics worry that some families will become even poorer as a result of those restrictions.

On May 21, Elon Musk and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meet at the White House.

In a preview interview for CBS Sunday Morning, Musk expressed disappointment with the bill’s sheer cost, drawing criticism from fiscal conservatives.

He also claimed that Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is reversing his efforts to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force he established to reduce “wasteful” spending.

Musk, who is sporting an “Occupy Mars” T-shirt, told CBS, “I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, which increases the budget deficit rather than decrease it,” Musk said.

He continued, “I believe a bill can be big or it can be beautiful.” “I’m not sure if it could be both,” he said. My personal opinion.

Elon Musk has previously spoken out against a US budget bill. Under former president Joe Biden, Musk sparked outcry in December against a larger-than-a-kilo of budget legislation, calling on Congress to “kill the bill.”

However, Musk’s most recent comments suggest a potential growing conflict between himself and the Trump White House.

In Trump’s administration, billionaire Musk, who is widely believed to be the richest man in the world, has previously had a prominent role. He even assisted him in winning a second term as president.

Musk joined Trump on the campaign trail in 2024 and gave hundreds of millions of dollars to the Republican leader and his political allies.

Trump, for his part, accepted Musk’s warm embrace. Trump announced that Musk would take over the DOGE as head of his incoming administration shortly after winning a second term in office.

However, Musk’s White House position has remained ambiguous and contentious. Musk hasn’t gone through a Senate confirmation hearing, despite having a regular presence at presidential cabinet meetings.

He has been described by the White House as a “special government employee,” a position that consultants from various business sectors are temporarily given. These employees are prohibited from using their government positions for financial gain because they are typically limited to 130 days a year.

However, some claim that Musk has benefited from his position and that his tenure at the White House has not been fully documented. For instance, Trump held a press conference in March to promote Tesla models produced by Musk.

Given that they are government contractors’ competitors, the rocket company SpaceX and the satellite communications company Starlink have also raised conflict-of-interest issues.

According to reports in the media, Musk and other Trump White House staff members may have engaged in secret altercations that may have cooled relations between the president and his billionaire backer. Trump has so far shied away from making outright accusations against Musk.

For instance, Trump switched on Wednesday to criticize Democratic members of Congress who disapproved of his signature budget bill from Musk’s comments.

Trump remarked, “Remember, we have no Democratic votes because they’re bad people.” There is a problem, they say.

Last week, a House of Representatives version of the budget bill slammed against it. The Senate is currently considering it. Senate Republicans can only afford to lose three votes if they want to pass the bill because the 100-person chamber has a 53-seat majority.

Despite concerns from his fellow Republicans, Trump reiterated his call for party unity on Wednesday.

Trump remarked, “We need to get a lot of votes.” “We need to receive a lot of support, and we do,” he said.

The national debt’s increase has sparked opposition from some Republicans. Others are concerned about the potential effects of Medicaid restrictions on their constituents.

Trump has already stated that he opposes any Medicaid reductions. However, he has attempted to use the tax cuts in the bill to benefit the less wealthy, despite the fact that critics claim they will lead to the greatest savings.

US Vice President Vance touts Trump’s crypto record at Bitcoin conference

The domestic cryptocurrency industry should continue to play a significant role in American politics, according to Vice President JD Vance, who has emphasized President Donald Trump’s administration’s close ties to a deeply rooted industry.

Vance urged cryptocurrency executives and enthusiasts to keep pushing the US Congress to pass pro-crypto legislation supported by the White House during a speech at a Bitcoin conference on Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In his address, Vance stated that “we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unleash innovation and use it to improve the lives of countless American citizens.” We run the $ 3 trillion industry offshore in search of a friendly jurisdiction, however, if we don’t clarify regulations right away.

In the middle of the campaign, Vance delivered the speech after Trump pledged to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” at the same Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee last year. Former President Joe Biden’s administration had an unfair effect on the crypto industry, which heavily supported Trump and pro-cryptocurrency lawmakers in the election.

Vance praised Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the billionaire founders of the crypto exchange Gemini, for influencing US politics in particular during the election of last year.

Vance addressed the crowd at the Venetian Hotel, “You chose to speak up, and you chose to get involved, and I think that was the result of it.”

Vance praised cryptocurrencies as a means of protecting conservative populists from bad politicians, overly aggressive regulators, and unethical elites. He predicted that digital currencies would continue to be accepted as financial instruments, and he argued that the US should take the lead in the sector, noting that the Chinese government is hostile to crypto.

Trump, the president, granted Ross Ulbricht, the owner of Silk Road, a black market website that was crucial to Bitcoin’s initial growth, a Bitcoin reserve and granted him a pardon.

Trump’s administration has also outspoken crypto supporters, which have stopped or undone numerous enforcement actions taken against large cryptocurrency companies.

At the Bitcoin conference, Don Jr. and Eric, Trump’s sons, are among the speakers.

Inter-relationships are at stake

Democrats and even crypto enthusiasts have criticized the president and his family for using cryptocurrencies as a platform to earn money.

World Liberty Financial, which recently launched its own stablecoin, a rapidly expanding type of cryptocurrency whose value is frequently tied to the US dollar, has about a 60% stake in the Trump family. Vance claimed the Trump administration wants the bill to be passed into law quickly because the US Senate advanced legislation this month that would establish a federal framework for stablecoin regulation.

Trump’s media empire announced on Tuesday that it would raise $ 2.5 billion to purchase Bitcoin, the oldest and most well-known cryptocurrency in the world.

GB’s Jarman & Evans win silver in mixed team event

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

At the first European Gymnastics Championships in Leipzig, Jake Jarman and Ruby Evans of Great Britain took silver in the combined team event.

The 23-year-old Jarman, who participated in the men’s team’s gold on Tuesday night, delivered on the high bar, while the 18-year-old Evans shone on the beam.

That was fantastic, Jarman said. We had a good chance of winning a medal if we went with our strongest apparatus, and tactfully, it turned out just fine.

We made the right decision because the silver medal was the ideal situation this time round, and we’re both thrilled to have won.

Timo Eder and Karina Schoenmaier of Germany won the title on home soil, while Italy’s Lorenzo Casali and Manila Esposito took bronze.

Less than tenth of a point separated the top two teams, with Germany defeating them in the head-to-head final with a score of 25. 466.

Evans, 18, continued, “We both really enjoyed it, and Jake helped calm me.” We both deserve this medal, and I’m very proud of both of us.

related subjects

  • Gymnastics

GB’s Jarman & Evans win silver in inaugural mixed Euro event

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

At the first European Gymnastics Championships in Leipzig, Jake Jarman and Ruby Evans of Great Britain took silver in the combined team event.

The 23-year-old Jarman, who participated in the men’s team’s gold on Tuesday night, delivered on the high bar, while the 18-year-old Evans shone on the beam.

That was fantastic, Jarman said. We had a good chance of winning a medal if we went with our strongest apparatus, and tactfully, it turned out just fine.

We made the right decision because the silver medal was the ideal situation this time round, and we’re both thrilled to have won.

Timo Eder and Karina Schoenmaier of Germany won the title on home soil, while Italy’s Lorenzo Casali and Manila Esposito took bronze.

Less than tenth of a point separated the top two teams, with Germany defeating them in the head-to-head final with a score of 25. 466.

Evans, 18, continued, “We both really enjoyed it, and Jake helped calm me.” We both deserve this medal, and I’m very proud of both of us.

related subjects

  • Gymnastics

Alleged N76bn Fraud: Ex-Bank Director Testifies, Says He Wrote Off Arik’s $2.3m Debt

Austen Obigwe, a former group executive director of Union Bank PLC, disclosed to the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja how he had written off a $2.3 million debt owed to his private company, Staal Corp.

In the trial of Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and four others who are accused of allegedly defrauding Arik Airline of N$76 billion and $ 33.55 million, respectively, Obigwe made the disclosure while continuing his evidence as the second prosecution witness before Justice Mojisola Dada.

The defendants were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count conspiracy and stealing charges that involved dishonestly stealing another person’s property.

The former Arik Air Limited Receiver Manager, Kamilu Omokide, Arik Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, and another company, Super Bravo Limited, are the other defendants.

Justice Dada had granted them bail in the amount of N20 million each, with one surety in the same amount, after they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

READ MORE: &nbsp, Emefiele Appeals Final Forfeiture Order On 753-Unit Housing Estate

The witness commenced his testimony at the court’s final session on March 19 while Wahab Shittu, the prosecution’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria, led the witness in evidence. Additionally, he responded to questions from Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and the Ist and third defendants’ attorneys.

Obigwe responded to questions from three senior Nigerian attorneys on Wednesday in continuation of his testimony, answering those from Olasupo Shasore (for the second defendant), Olalekan Ojo (for the fourth defendant), and Tayo Oyedepo (for the fifth defendant).

Obigwe testified to the court that Arik Air owed $2.3 million to his business, Staal, in his testimony two years after he left Union Bank.

He claimed that the money was never returned, but that he had written it off because the airline had problems running at the time.

“I’m not interested in collecting it,” I said. When I learned that Arik Air was experiencing difficulties, I wrote it off,” Obigwe told the court.

He also confirmed that he began consulting work with Arik Air and other businesses after leaving Union Bank.

Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, the founder of Arik Air, responded in the affirmative when asked if he had a personal connection with the airline. He noted that despite his absence from a formal relationship with the airline, he still maintains a relationship with Arumemi-Ikhide.

Obigwe reiterated that he participated in an Arik Air-related inspection of 26 aircraft in 2009.

According to him, based on Lufthansa’s evaluations, the aircrafts were determined to be airworthy and in good condition.

He claimed that there was no cause for doubt about Lufthansa’s evaluation, adding that the inspection’s goal was to prevent the airline’s fleet from being exhausted.

Obigwe testified that there were no complaints from other financial institutions suggesting Arik Air was defaulting on its loan obligations during his tenure at Union Bank. He also confirmed that Arik Air was, to the best of his knowledge, utilizing Union Bank as a source of information during his tenure.

The witness claimed that the letter, which allegedly came from AMCON to Union Bank on April 23, 2009, was not brought up while he was still with the bank.

The witness questioned Arik Air’s character and management, saying, “I can only speak for the period I was there. Arik Air was one of the best companies I worked for when I was a union bank employee.

When questioned about the options open to lenders when a loan becomes non-performing, Obigwe responded that the lender may choose to transfer the loan to another bank, resend it, or impose the loan’s security.

In the event of a borrower defaulting, he acknowledged that a lender has the legal authority to dispose of the security.