- Says All Platforms Functional, Blames Internal Issues for Alleged Disruption
By Queen Kunde
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has firmly denied reports suggesting that the Police Service Commission (PSC) was denied access to its verification servers, calling the allegations “misleading and inaccurate.”
In a press statement released Thursday, NIMC clarified that all of its identity verification platforms remain fully functional and accessible to all authorized security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the PSC. The commission emphasized that it has provided uninterrupted identity verification services for over five years, particularly in support of police recruitment exercises.
“The Commission is aware of the purported ‘inability of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to access the NIMC verification server.’ This information is not only misleading but also inaccurate,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
Dr. Adegoke confirmed that the ICT department of the Nigeria Police Force continues to manage a long-standing integration with NIMC’s systems, facilitating real-time verification of National Identification Numbers (NINs) across all police formations nationwide.
The statement noted that NIMC recently restructured its verification framework for better standardization and efficiency, a move endorsed by the Office of the National Security Adviser. Despite these changes, verification services reportedly remained available throughout, with the NPF affirming continued access.
NIMC further hinted that any challenges the PSC may be facing are likely internal and not related to the Commission’s systems.
“We believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters,” the statement read.
Reiterating its commitment to supporting national security efforts, NIMC pledged continued cooperation with the PSC, NPF, and all partner agencies, provided all terms and conditions for service use are followed.
The statement comes amid growing public scrutiny over delays in police recruitment, with concerns raised over possible data access issues. NIMC’s clarification may help calm anxieties, even as it subtly nudges PSC to resolve potential internal bottlenecks.