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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a major milestone in Nigeria's digital transformation agenda and establishing a new legal framework for secure digital identity management.
The new legislation repeals and replaces the NIMC Act of 2007, introducing far-reaching reforms designed to modernise the country's identity ecosystem in line with global best practices, emerging technologies and the demands of an increasingly digital economy.
Announcing the development, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) described the law as "a transformative milestone in Nigeria's journey towards a secure, inclusive and digitally empowered nation."
According to a statement by the Head, byCorporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, a key innovation of the Act is the designation of NIMC as Nigeria's Root Certification Authority for the National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), making the Commission the country's trusted authority for secure digital identity, authentication and electronic trust services across both government and private-sector platforms.
According to the Commission, the law also empowers NIMC to ensure secure, interoperable and seamless exchange of identity data among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), financial institutions and other authorised organisations.
"The implementation of the Act will deliver significant benefits by creating a trusted, secure and interoperable digital identity ecosystem that enables seamless access to services across both the public and private sectors while strengthening electronic trust across Nigeria's digital economy," the Commission stated.
NIMC said the reform directly supports President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, enhancing national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery and supporting the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation and economic growth.
The Commission noted that the new law became necessary because the global digital landscape has changed significantly since the enactment of the 2007 Act, with rapid growth in e-governance, digital commerce, cybersecurity threats and data protection requirements necessitating a more robust legal framework.
Among the major provisions of the Act are stronger safeguards for personal data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), the establishment of a national Public Key Infrastructure, recognition of both physical and digital identity credentials linked to the National Identification Number (NIN), stricter penalties for identity theft and multiple registrations, and special measures to facilitate enrolment of vulnerable and underserved populations.
The legislation also reinforces the "One Person, One Identity" principle while positioning the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria's foundational identity credential for identity verification and authentication across public and private institutions.
In addition, the Act promotes the NIMC General Multipurpose Card as a nationwide identity credential under the theme, "One Card, Multiple Possibilities."
According to NIMC, Nigerians should expect easier access to identity services, including for citizens in the diaspora, stronger protection of personal data, improved cybersecurity, faster and more secure identity verification, reduced identity-related fraud, increased interoperability among institutions and accelerated digital innovation.
The Commission assured Nigerians that implementation of the new law would be guided by transparency, inclusivity, professionalism and citizen-centred service delivery.
"NIMC remains committed to implementing the provisions of the Act in a manner that promotes public trust, safeguards personal data and supports Nigeria's digital transformation agenda," the statement said.
The Commission expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for signing what it described as a historic legislation, saying the law strengthens Nigeria's Digital Public Infrastructure and provides the legal foundation for trusted digital identity and secure electronic transactions.
NIMC also commended the leadership of the National Assembly, the Joint Committee on Identity and National Population Commission, the Minister of Interior, development partners, stakeholders and Nigerians for their contributions to the passage of the legislation.
The Commission said it would subsequently issue regulations, guidelines and other subsidiary instruments necessary for the effective implementation of the Act while continuing consultations with government institutions, the private sector and development partners to ensure a seamless transition to the new legal framework.