President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, introducing a stronger legal framework to support Nigeria’s digital identity system and improve access to public and private sector services.
The announcement was made on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that Tinubu signed the legislation at the State House.
The new law replaces and updates key provisions of the 2007 NIMC Act, with the aim of strengthening Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure and expanding the use of secure digital identity across the country.
Reacting to the development, NIMC Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described the legislation as a major step toward accelerating the country’s digital transformation. She said the Act reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as the primary means of identity verification and authentication nationwide.
According to her, the law introduces stronger safeguards for personal data, enhances cybersecurity measures, and provides a legal foundation for a National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It also supports secure digital authentication, encryption, and digital signatures, which are expected to improve confidence in online transactions.
Coker-Odusote added that the Act is designed to ensure that vulnerable and underserved groups have better access to legal identity, enabling them to participate more fully in social, financial, and economic activities.
She further explained that the legislation gives NIMC the authority to serve as the government’s root certificate authority, allowing government agencies to issue trusted digital certificates that verify the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents.
The NIMC boss said the new framework will also help eliminate duplication in identity management investments while aligning Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure with international standards. She noted that the reforms are expected to improve coordination among government agencies and strengthen trust in digital services across the country.
