President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law. The landmark piece of legislation effectively repeals and replaces the nearly 20-year-old NIMC Act of 2007, sweeping away an outdated legal framework to make room for a secure, integrated digital economy.
The signing ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja, attended by top government figures including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
A Trust Framework for a $1 Trillion Economy
Speaking through his verified channels, President Tinubu emphasized that the old legal framework belonged to a completely different era. He tied the overhaul directly to his administration's ambitious economic agenda.
"For nearly twenty years, Nigeria's identity system operated under a law written for a different era. That era is over," Tinubu stated. "NIMC now holds the keys to trust in our digital economy: every digital signature, every secure transaction, and every verified identity. This is how serious nations build digital economies, and we are building one for Nigeria."
A central element of the 2026 Act is the official designation of NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Legally, this cements NIMC as the ultimate trusted authority to oversee digital identity management, biometric authentication, and electronic trust services across both public and private sector platforms.
Key Provisions of the NIMC Act 2026
Mandatory NIN Scope: Required for passport applications, voter registration, banking, land transactions, telecom services, pensions, and consumer credit.
Vulnerable Inclusion: Establishes a dedicated identifier system and special enrollment measures for citizens without permanent residences
Data Protection: Explicitly aligns with the Nigerian Data Protection Act; consumer data cannot be accessed or reused without direct consent.
100x Higher Penalties to Combat Identity Fraud
To combat identity-related crimes and systemic manipulation, the new law dramatically increases punitive measures. Individuals attempting multiple registrations, forgery, or unauthorized data access face a minimum of five years’ imprisonment. Furthermore, corporate bodies found violating the Act or failing to safeguard user data will face steep fines of up to ₦20 million.
To back these penalties, the commission has been granted court-authorized enforcement powers.
NIMC officials can now legally investigate offenses, execute searches, seize evidence, decrypt data, and arrest suspects in tandem with law enforcement.
Enhancing National Security
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, lauded the President as the "Grand Innovator," noting that the modern database has already begun showing results. According to Tunji-Ojo, a unified system where data in the immigration pipeline seamlessly mirrors the NIMC database has already drastically improved border control and helped security forces track and apprehend individuals operating under false identities.
NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote added that the 2026 Act provides a bold leap into the future, enforcing the core principle of "One Person, One Identity." The commission also announced the upcoming rollout of a new General Multipurpose Card, designed to act as a single, versatile identity credential to facilitate seamless verification across every sector of Nigerian life.
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