Tinubu Signs New NIMC Act 2026 Into Law to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Identity System
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, replacing the 2007 legislation and introducing a new legal framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem, enhancing data protection and boosting cyber security.
In a statement on Friday by Headline, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, PhD, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) described the new law as a landmark reform that would modernise Nigeria’s identity management system in line with global best practices and support the country’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the commission, the Act establishes NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), making it the country’s trusted authority for secure digital identity, authentication, digital certificates and electronic trust services across public and private sector platforms.
The commission said the law empowers it to facilitate secure, seamless and interoperable data exchange among government institutions, financial institutions and private organisations, laying the foundation for a trusted digital economy.
NIMC noted that the legislation aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, strengthening national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery and supporting the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
The Act also reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity credential under the principle of “One Person, One Identity,” while enabling faster identity verification and authentication across government and private sector services.
Among its major provisions are stronger safeguards for personal data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, recognition of both physical and digital identity credentials, enhanced anti-fraud measures to curb identity theft and multiple registrations, and the introduction of a special identification system for vulnerable and underserved populations.
The legislation further positions the NIMC General Multipurpose Card as a versatile identity credential for nationwide verification under the theme, “One Card, Multiple Possibilities.”
The commission said Nigerians should expect easier access to identity services, including for citizens in the diaspora, improved protection of personal data, stronger cybersecurity, faster and more secure identity verification, seamless data exchange across institutions, and expanded digital and financial inclusion.
NIMC assured Nigerians that implementation of the Act would be guided by transparency, inclusivity, professionalism and citizen-centred service delivery, adding that regulations and implementation guidelines would be issued in due course.
The commission expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for signing the legislation into law and also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly, the Minister of Interior, development partners and stakeholders for their contributions to the passage of what it described as the most significant reform of Nigeria’s identity management legal framework since the commission’s establishment.
