The Federal Government has taken another step towards improving Nigeria’s digital identity system as President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law.
The new law is expected to strengthen the country’s identity management system by providing a more modern legal framework for digital identification and making it easier for Nigerians to access both government and private sector services.
The announcement was made on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed in a post on his verified X handle that Tinubu signed the bill into law at the State House.
The Director-General of the NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, also welcomed the development, describing it as a major boost for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. She said the President’s approval of the law reflects his commitment to building a future driven by innovation, trust, and inclusion.
In a statement made available on Saturday, Coker-Odusote explained that the 2026 NIMC Act updates the 2007 law by creating a stronger legal framework for Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure. According to her, the legislation will support trusted digital identity and ensure easier access to essential public and private services.
She noted that the law strengthens the role of the National Identification Number (NIN) as the primary means of identity verification and authentication across the country.
According to the NIMC boss, the Act also introduces important reforms to address the challenges of today’s digital environment.
She said the law promotes inclusion by ensuring that vulnerable and underserved Nigerians can obtain legal identity, allowing them to participate fully in social, economic, and financial activities. It also gives NIMC the legal authority to serve as the country’s single root of trust for all government digital transactions.
Coker-Odusote added that the Act would eliminate duplication in identity management investments and establish a unified framework for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure in line with global best practices.
She explained that as the nation’s trust anchor, NIMC will support government agencies in issuing digital certificates to citizens and other users. These certificates will help verify the authenticity of digital documents, protect their integrity, and prevent forgery or denial of their origin across digital platforms.
