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President Tinubu Signs NIMC Act 2026, Emboldens Agency With Exclusive Mandates
President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, ushering in a major upgrade to Nigeria’s identity and digital infrastructure.
The new law replaces the 2007 NIMC Act and creates a modern legal framework designed to align the country’s identity ecosystem with global best practices and the needs of a fast-moving digital economy.
Central to the Act is the designation of NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). That role positions the Commission as the nation’s primary trusted authority for secure digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services across both government and private platforms.
By empowering NIMC to enable secure, interoperable, and seamless data exchange among public and private entities, the law lays the institutional groundwork for a trusted digital economy.
The reform supports the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, strengthening national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery, and bolstering the foundations for innovation and economic growth as Nigeria pursues its one-trillion-dollar economy goal, the commission said in a statement.
Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, said the 2007 Act - while foundational - no longer matched today’s digital realities. He noted that the explosion of digital services, e‑governance, e‑commerce, stricter data protection standards, and rising cybersecurity threats made a more robust, contemporary legal framework essential.
“The NIMC Act 2026 responds to these realities by modernising Nigeria’s identity management framework, strengthening digital trust, protecting citizens’ personal data, enhancing cybersecurity and positioning the country to fully harness the opportunities presented by the global digital economy”, he added.
Among key provisions of the Act include that “The Act strengthens NIMC’s role as the statutory authority responsible for the national identity management system in Nigeria.
“It firmly establishes the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country’s foundational identity credential, reinforces the principle of “One Person, One Identity,” and enables seamless identity verification and authentication across government and private-sector platforms.
“Importantly, the Act positions NIMC at the centre of Nigeria’s digital trust architecture by assigning it strategic responsibility for the National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure”, he added.
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