The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has refuted reports suggesting that the Police Service Commission (PSC) is unable to access its verification platforms, describing the claim as “misleading and inaccurate.”
In a statement signed by Head of NIMC’s Corporate Communications Unit, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the Commission assured the public that all its verification service platforms remain fully functional and accessible to authorized partners, including all security agencies.
“The NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN),” the statement said.
“The NPF, PSC, and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years,” it added.
Collaboration with Police
The Commission stressed its long-standing collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the PSC, noting that its verification services have been integral to police recruitment and other operations.
- According to the NIMC, at no point has it received complaints from either the NPF or PSC regarding access to its verification systems.
- NIMC also highlighted that the Nigeria Police ICT department is actively managing the technical integration that enables NIN verification across police formations.
- It added that recent structural changes to the verification framework carried out in consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser were implemented to improve standardization and service delivery.
- The NPF, it said, had confirmed that access to the verification services remains uninterrupted.
“Any service interruption experienced by the PSC may be due to internal matters,” the statement added.
Reiterating its commitment to national security, NIMC emphasized that it will continue to provide reliable verification services to support recruitment, cybercrime control, security mapping, and other official functions. However, it urged all partner agencies to comply with agreed terms and conditions to ensure seamless access.
Backstory
While announcing plans to commence the recruitment of Cadets and Constables into the Nigeria Police Force for the 2025 exercise during a visit to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Wednesday, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hashimu Argungu, had expressed frustration over the Commission’s continued inability to access the database of NIMC, a challenge he said has hampered effective verification of applicants’ identities.
According to a statement from the Commission, Argungu appealed to the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, to intervene and help facilitate access to the NIMC database, describing such access as crucial to fulfilling the PSC’s constitutional mandate.
