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Tinubu signs NIMC Act 2026 into law, as NIN becomes Nigeria’s foundational identity credential
President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, into law, as the new legislation repeals and replaces the old NIMC Act of 2007.
According to the Presidency, Friday, the new law ushers in a comprehensive legal framework designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity system, enhance cybersecurity, and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.
It also establishes a modern legal framework that aligns Nigeria’s identity management ecosystem with global best practices, emerging technologies and the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
A major highlight of the Act is the designation of the National Identity Management Commission as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s 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 government and private-sector platforms.
The law also empowers NIMC to facilitate secure, interoperable and seamless data exchange among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), financial institutions and private organisations, providing the legal foundation for a trusted digital economy.
Key innovation of the newly-signed act reinforce the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity credential under the principle of “One Person, One Identity”, while recognising both physical and digital identity credentials for secure verification and authentication.
The legislation also introduces stronger safeguards for personal data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, strengthens measures against identity theft, impersonation and multiple registrations, and expands access to identity services for vulnerable and underserved populations, including persons without permanent residences.
In addition, the law positions the NIMC General Multipurpose Card as a nationwide identity credential under the theme “One Card, Multiple Possibilities” while enhancing interoperability across government and private-sector platforms.
