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| Engr. Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC’s Director-General/CEO |
NIMC recently unveiled the NIMC Act 2026, a new law that expands the National Identity Management Commission’s responsibilities and establishes it as Nigeria’s central Digital Trust Authority.
Signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2026, the Act replaces the NIMC Act 2007 after 19 years, reflecting rapid technological change, new security risks, and rising demands for data privacy.
The legislation strengthens NIMC’s role as the country’s foundational identity and data exchange agency and broadens its duties within Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.
NIMC said the update was necessary to modernize the legal framework governing identity services and to better protect citizens’ data in an increasingly digital environment.
Speaking at a Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) roundtable in Lagos on August 28, 2026, Engr. Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC’s Director-General/CEO (represented at the event by Mrs. Florence Oloruntade, Director of SERVICOM), described the Act as a turning point for Nigeria’s identity ecosystem.
She noted that technological and security shifts since 2007 had made the old law inadequate.
The new Act follows wide consultations with civil society, telecoms, financial institutions, the World Bank–supported ID4D project, and the National Assembly. With presidential assent, NIMC is now designated the central authority for the nation’s digital public infrastructure.
Dr. Alvan Ikoku Jnr., NIMC’s Director of Research and Strategy, briefed media practitioners on the Act’s key provisions, emphasizing the significance and sensitivity of overseeing Nigeria’s Digital Trust Infrastructure.
He explained that the law elevates NIMC from a conventional identity manager to a National Trust Authority and grants it authority to act as Nigeria’s Rule Certification Authority.
“In addition to transforming the Commission from a mere identity management agency to a National Trust Authority, the new legislation further saddles the Commission with the mandate of being Nigeria’s Rule Certification Authority,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure rests on three major pillars: digital identity management, payment systems and trust, and data exchange.
He expressed confidence that the new legislation would enhance enforcement and empower NIMC to effectively discharge its statutory responsibilities.
Addressing concerns over the possible challenges associated with the Commission’s expanded mandate, particularly funding and human capital, Ikoku said NIMC had already developed a roadmap for 2026–2031 to guide the implementation of its new responsibilities.
He disclosed that the National Identification Number (NIN) database had reached approximately 140 million, with a significant proportion of the enrolment achieved between 2025 and 2026.
He added that the Commission had also significantly reduced the time required for NIN enrolment, from about seven days to approximately one hour.
According to him, the development reflects the Commission’s efforts to improve efficiency and make identity services more accessible to Nigerians.
On service delivery, Oloruntade disclosed that NIMC had procured new systems and equipment, including laptops, for its staff and some front-end partners to improve operational efficiency and speed up service delivery.
She also said the Commission was implementing various training and capacity-building programmes to equip its personnel with the skills required to operate effectively under the new legal framework.
She added that efforts were also underway to improve staff welfare, noting that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had approved a 25 per cent increase in salaries and other emoluments.
The NIMC management, she said, remains committed to ensuring that the expanded mandate of the Commission translates into improved identity services, stronger digital trust and more efficient public and private sector services for Nigerians.
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