President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, into law, repealing the 2007 legislation and introducing a comprehensive new framework for a secure, interoperable, and inclusive digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria.
The landmark legislation significantly expands the powers of the NIMC by designating it as the Root Certification Authority for the country’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). This move places the Commission at the centre of Nigeria’s digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust architecture.
The new law reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as the nation’s foundational identity credential under the guiding principle of “One Person, One Identity.” It also empowers the NIMC to facilitate secure and seamless data exchange among government institutions, financial organisations, and private-sector entities, while introducing stronger safeguards for personal data and privacy in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and global standards.
According to the NIMC, the legislation represents the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s identity management framework since the Commission was established nearly two decades ago. The reforms were driven by the rapid expansion of digital services, e-governance, electronic commerce, evolving cyber threats, and the need for alignment with international best practices.
Under the Act, the NIMC will establish and maintain Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure. This includes providing trusted authentication systems, digital signatures, digital certificates, encryption services, and robust identity verification frameworks to boost confidence in digital transactions and online services.
The law introduces stringent penalties for multiple registrations, identity theft, impersonation, and other identity-related offences. In a major inclusion drive, it establishes an innovative identifier system for vulnerable persons and mandates special measures to facilitate the enrolment of underserved populations, including
individuals without permanent residences.
The legislation further recognises both physical and digital identity credentials, all securely linked to an individual’s National Identification Number. This is expected to expand opportunities for digital transactions and improve public service delivery.
NIMC stated that the implementation of the new framework will enable faster and more secure identity verification, promote greater financial and digital inclusion, enhance interoperability across platforms, and support the ease of doing business.
The reforms are also seen as key to strengthening digital governance, cybersecurity, and the federal government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy through technology-driven growth.
The Commission expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership in signing the legislation. It also commended the National Assembly, the Ministry of Interior, development partners, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the passage of the Act.
NIMC said it will now issue necessary regulations and guidelines for full implementation while engaging relevant institutions and the private sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new legal framework.
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