The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has firmly denied recent claims suggesting that the Police Service Commission (PSC) has been blocked from accessing the agency’s National Identification Number (NIN) verification services. The commission described such claims as “misleading” and “inaccurate,” emphasizing that all security agencies, including the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), continue to enjoy full access to its verification platforms.
This clarification follows remarks made by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, during a visit to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Wednesday. Argungu reportedly lamented the PSC’s inability to access NIMC’s database, which he claimed had hampered the NIN verification process ahead of the 2025 police recruitment exercise.
Argungu appealed to the NDPC’s National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to intervene and facilitate access to the identity database, which he noted is essential to upholding the commission’s constitutional mandate of vetting candidates for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force.
In a swift response via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), NIMC dismissed the allegations. The agency stated:
“All our verification platforms are fully functional and accessible to our partners, including all security agencies. The NPF, PSC, and others have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years.”
According to NIMC, the PSC has previously used the platform for multiple police recruitment exercises without incident. “We have never received any complaints from the PSC or the Nigeria Police Force regarding challenges with verification,” the agency added.
In further clarification, NIMC pointed out that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is responsible for managing the integration and verification link with NIMC — a system that has been operational and reliable over the years.
Furthermore, NIMC revealed that the framework guiding how it provides services to security agencies was recently updated in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). This review, it said, was designed to standardize service delivery and ensure transparency and efficiency across all participating agencies.
“The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with ONSA,” the statement read.
The agency maintained that any disruption in service experienced by the PSC may be due to internal administrative issues rather than a system failure on its end.
“We believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters,” NIMC stated, reaffirming its readiness to support all government agencies in line with established terms and protocols.
The NIN verification system plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s national security infrastructure. It is used by law enforcement, banks, telecom companies, and various government bodies to confirm the identities of individuals and reduce identity fraud. As such, seamless access to this database is vital for processes such as police recruitment, border security, and criminal investigations.
Security experts warn that misinformation or inter-agency friction could delay critical operations, especially at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to improve policing standards, data security, and public trust.
Efforts are now expected from the NDPC or relevant stakeholders to mediate and ensure that the PSC’s technical concerns, if any, are promptly resolved.
As Nigeria continues to digitize and centralize its identity management systems, clarity and collaboration between federal institutions remain key. The NIMC has reiterated its openness to dialogue and its commitment to enhancing national security through robust identity verification infrastructure.
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