President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, ushering in a new legal framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity management system and improving national security.
The signing ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja, marking the formal repeal and re-enactment of the previous NIMC law.
The new Act is designed to modernise the operations of the National Identity Management Commission by enhancing the management of the National Identification Number (NIN) database and improving interoperability among government identity databases.
The legislation is expected to support more efficient public service delivery, strengthen immigration and security operations, promote digital inclusion, and improve economic planning through a more reliable national identity system.
The Act also provides a stronger legal foundation for protecting citizens’ identity data while facilitating seamless verification across government agencies and approved institutions.
President Tinubu’s assent follows the review and amendment of the bill after earlier concerns over legal drafting and constitutional provisions.
With the President’s signature, the new law is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and boost confidence in the country’s identity management framework.
