President Bola Tinubu signs the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law at the State House in Abuja. The signing is witnessed by senior officials including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives leaders Benjamin Kalu and Julius Ihonvbere, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the NIMC Director-General Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, with representatives including a World Bank representative present.
Government spokesperson Bayo Onanuga says the new law repeals and replaces the 2007 NIMC Act. Officials describe it as a step toward modernising Nigeria’s digital identity system by creating an updated legal framework aligned with global best practices and the needs of a digital economy. The Act is presented as strengthening the National Identification Number (NIN) as a core element for identity verification, enhancing data protection and cybersecurity, and providing a legal basis for National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to support secure digital authentication, encryption and signatures.
Multiple reports also say the integrated NIMC database has already supported national security efforts, including aiding in the arrest of terror suspects. The legislation is also described as aiming to improve inclusion and reduce duplication in identity systems across public and private services.
