Tinubu signs new NIMC act to modernise national identity framework

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, describing it as a landmark reform designed to modernise Nigeria’s identity management system, strengthen data protection and support the country’s digital economy.

The President said the new legislation replaces a legal framework that had governed the nation’s identity management system for nearly two decades, noting that the law is tailored to meet the demands of a modern, digital and inclusive Nigeria.

According to Tinubu, the Act positions the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at the centre of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and National Public Key Infrastructure, providing a trusted platform for verified identities, secure digital transactions, electronic signatures and broader digital services.

He explained that the legislation also reinforces the protection of citizens’ personal data by ensuring that information cannot be accessed indiscriminately, used beyond its original purpose or processed without consent and due legal procedures.

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“The privacy of Nigerians must be protected, and this law makes that clear,” the President stated.

Tinubu further disclosed that the National Identification Number (NIN) would now serve as the primary gateway for accessing a wide range of essential public and private sector services, including passport applications, voter registration, banking, land transactions, telecommunications, pensions, insurance, tax administration, consumer credit and other government services.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to the principle of “One person. One identity. One number,” describing it as a critical foundation for efficient governance and national development.

The President said he specifically directed that the new law should promote inclusion by protecting vulnerable citizens, underserved communities and Nigerians living in the Diaspora, ensuring that no citizen is excluded from opportunities due to the absence of a trusted identity.

Tinubu also noted that the Act strengthens the governance structure of NIMC through broader representation on its governing board, improved accountability mechanisms and stricter penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations, unauthorised access and abuse of the national identity system.

“We will not tolerate those who forge identities, steal the identities of others or exploit the system,” he warned.

The President commended the National Assembly, the Honourable Minister of Interior, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), development partners and Nigerians for supporting the successful passage of the legislation.

He described the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 as a major milestone in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at building a more secure, inclusive and prosperous Nigeria while supporting the country’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.