President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, ushering in a new era for Nigeria’s identity system after nearly two decades under outdated legislation.

The new Act establishes a modern, secure, inclusive, and digital identity framework designed to support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a one‑trillion‑dollar economy. It positions NIMC at the heart of the country’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.

Tinubu emphasized that the law strengthens data protection, ensuring that personal information cannot be accessed carelessly, misused, or processed without consent and due legal process. He noted 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.

The Act also introduces tougher penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations, unauthorized access, and abuse of the system. Tinubu stressed that vulnerable groups, underserved communities, and Nigerians in the diaspora must not be excluded from opportunities due to lack of a trusted identity.

He commended the National Assembly, the Minister of Interior, NIMC, development partners, and Nigerians for their support in delivering what he described as a landmark legislation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.