Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernize its identity management system and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
The new legislation replaces the NIMC Act of 2007, which had governed Nigeria’s national identity framework for nearly two decades. According to the President, the previous law was designed for a different era and no longer adequately addressed the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Announcing the development, Tinubu described the Act as a significant step toward building a secure, efficient, and digitally driven identity ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic ambitions.
“For nearly twenty years, Nigeria’s identity system operated under a law written for a different era. That era is over,” the President stated.
The NIMC Act 2026 is expected to provide a modern legal framework for digital identity management, enhance cybersecurity measures, and strengthen the protection of citizens’ personal data. The law also seeks to improve the reliability of identity verification processes across government institutions, financial services, telecommunications, and other sectors of the economy.
