ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, establishing a modern, secure, inclusive, and digital identity framework for Nigeria.
The President announced the signing on Saturday, stating that the new legislation replaces the nearly twenty-year-old identity system that was written for a different era. “That era is over,” Tinubu declared.
According to the President, the new Act positions NIMC at the heart of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and National Public Key Infrastructure, providing the trust foundation for verified identities, secure transactions, digital signatures, and the wider digital economy.
The Act strengthens the protection of citizens’ data, making it clear that personal information cannot be accessed carelessly, used outside its original purpose, or treated without regard for consent and due legal process. “The privacy of Nigerians must be protected, and this law makes that clear,” Tinubu stated.
The President explained that the National Identification Number (NIN) will now serve as a stronger gateway to critical services, including passports, voter registration, bank accounts, land transactions, telecommunications, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit, and government services. “One person. One identity. One number,” he said.
Tinubu also gave specific instructions that the law must protect the vulnerable, the underserved, and Nigerians in the Diaspora. “No Nigerian should be locked out of opportunity because they lack a trusted identity,” he added.
The Act strengthens governance, expands representation on the NIMC Board, improves accountability, and introduces tougher penalties for identity theft, multiple registration, unauthorised access, and abuse of the system. The President warned that the government will not tolerate those who forge identities, steal the identities of others, or exploit the system.
Tinubu commended the National Assembly, the Honourable Minister of Interior, NIMC, development partners, and all Nigerians whose support helped deliver the landmark legislation.
“This is the Renewed Hope Agenda at work,” the President concluded.
