The National Identity Management Commission has refuted claims that the Police Service Commission was denied access to NIMC’s verification services, describing the report as “misleading” and “inaccurate.”

This follows remarks made by the Chairman of the PSC, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, during a visit to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission on Wednesday.

Argungu had expressed frustration over what he described as the commission’s continued inability to access NIMC’s database, a challenge he said was hampering effective verification of applicants’ identities ahead of the 2025 recruitment of cadets and constables into the Nigeria Police Force.

According to a statement issued by the PSC, Argungu appealed to the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to intervene and help facilitate access to the NIMC database, which he described as crucial to fulfilling the PSC’s constitutional mandate.

But in a swift response via X (formerly Twitter), NIMC dismissed the claims, stating that all its verification platforms remain functional and accessible to its partners, including security agencies.

“The National Identity Management Commission wishes to inform the general public that all its verification service platforms are functional and accessible to all partners, including all security agencies,” the identity regulator said in a statement.

It underlined that both the Nigeria Police Force and the PSC have had uninterrupted access to their verification services for over five years. “The NPF, PSC, and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years,” it said.

NIMC said it has consistently provided verification support for police recruitment exercises and has not received any complaints from either the NPF or the PSC.

“NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC, and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN verification by the NPF or PSC,” it said.

The agency also noted that the Information Communications and Technology department of the Nigeria Police Force manages the long-standing verification and integration service between the commission and all police formations.

The regulator stated that recent efforts to standardize the framework guiding services to security agencies were carried out in consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser,” it said.

It said the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that the verification services remain available and operational.

The commission suggested that any service disruption experienced by the PSC could be due to internal issues. “We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters,” the statement said.

NIMC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all partners, including the PSC and NPF, under established terms and conditions.