President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards a secure, inclusive and technology-driven digital economy.
The President described the legislation as a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s identity management framework, replacing a legal structure that had governed Nigeria’s identity system for nearly two decades.
According to him, the new Act positions the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at the centre of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and National Public Key Infrastructure, providing a trusted foundation for verified identities, secure digital transactions, electronic signatures and broader digital services.
Tinubu noted that the legislation significantly strengthens the protection of citizens’ personal data by ensuring that information cannot be accessed arbitrarily, misused beyond its intended purpose or processed without consent and due legal procedures.
He said the National Identification Number (NIN) will now serve as the primary gateway to essential public and private sector services, including passport issuance, voter registration, banking, land transactions, telecommunications, pensions, insurance, tax administration, consumer credit and other government services.
The President reiterated the government’s commitment to an inclusive identity system, stressing that special provisions were made to ensure vulnerable groups, underserved communities and Nigerians in the diaspora are not excluded from accessing opportunities because they lack a trusted identity.
He added that the Act also strengthens NIMC’s governance structure through broader board representation, enhanced accountability mechanisms and stiffer penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations, unauthorised access and abuse of the national identity system.
“We will not tolerate those who forge identities, steal the identities of others, or exploit the system,” the President declared.
Tinubu commended the National Assembly, the Minister of Interior, the National Identity Management Commission, development partners and Nigerians for their contributions towards the successful passage of the landmark legislation.
He expressed confidence that the new law would enhance national security, improve service delivery and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy through a robust and trusted digital identity ecosystem.
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