President Bola Tinubu on Friday signed into law a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s identity framework, moving to make the National Identification Number the central credential for security, public services and digital commerce.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 replaces a 19‑year‑old legal regime and, officials say, will tighten border controls, sharpen economic planning and accelerate digital inclusion—steps the administration argues are essential to broader efforts to boost growth and attract investment on the path to a $1 trillion economy.
At a ceremony in the Presidential Villa, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the legislation as “a defining moment” in the country’s digital transformation, saying a reliable, integrated identity system will improve decisions about where to site hospitals, industries and other public infrastructure while strengthening immigration and migration control.
Minister of Interior Tunji‑Ojo joined the NIMC director general in praising the law’s potential to make the National Identification Number a trusted basis for identity verification, digital transactions and public‑sector service delivery.
Proponents say the act will allow the government to centralize identity verification and reduce fraud in social programs, though civil‑society groups and privacy advocates elsewhere have warned that expanded identity databases can raise risks around data protection and surveillance.
The legislation’s implementation timeline and funding arrangements remain critical details to watch as the government moves to operationalize the law.
“I believe strongly that this will improve digital awareness in Nigeria. It will help the economy, infrastructure planning, immigration, and migration.
“At the end of the day, Nigeria will be better for it. Digital identity will now be better managed,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President disclosed that the National Assembly subjected the bill to rigorous legislative scrutiny, including public hearings and international benchmarking, to ensure the legislation meets global standards.
“We did not pass it quickly. We conducted public hearings and even sent people outside Nigeria to study what obtains in other countries because we wanted legislation that would outlive us and serve generations of Nigerians,” he said.
Akpabio said the legislation aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and has already begun impacting national security through the integration of identity databases with security platforms.
According to him, security agencies recently intercepted suspected terrorists after their identities were detected through interconnected digital databases, describing the development as evidence of the growing importance of digital identity in combating crime.
He added that ongoing constitutional reforms, including proposals on state policing, would further reinforce the country’s security architecture.
“We have done the same thing for over 60 years with persistent insecurity. It is important that we embrace reforms that will benefit all Nigerians.
“One thing is certain: Nigeria will never remain the same again after President Bola Tinubu leaves office because of his initiatives, his vision, and his passion to ensure that the right things are done for the country.”
Also speaking, Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the legislation as a forward-looking reform that demonstrates the administration’s resolve to solve tomorrow’s challenges today.
“This is fantastic. Once again, it shows that this government understands what it takes to solve the future problems of Nigeria,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo applauded the National Assembly for supporting the Executive’s reform agenda and commended NIMC Director-General, Engr (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for championing the legal reforms needed to reposition the Commission.
He said the Act provides the legal framework for harmonising identities, synchronising national databases, promoting interoperability across government institutions and facilitating secure digital authentication.
Without disclosing operational details, the minister stressed that the legislation would serve as the legal backbone of Nigeria’s future security architecture.
“It’s about identity management, harmonising identities, synchronising databases and ensuring interoperability with secure handshakes. This will be the foundation of our security architecture,” he said.
In her remarks, NIMC Director-General, Coker-Odusote, described the President’s assent as a historic milestone that closes a legal gap which had persisted for nearly two decades despite the rapid evolution of digital technology.
She said the Act establishes a modern legal framework for Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure by reinforcing the National Identification Number as the country’s single trusted identity credential for citizens and legal residents
According to her, the legislation introduces stronger safeguards for personal data, enhanced cybersecurity, legal backing for the National Public Key Infrastructure, secure digital authentication, encryption and digital signatures.
She explained that the law also empowers NIMC to function as the Federal Government’s Root Certificate Authority, enabling Ministries, Departments and Agencies to issue trusted digital certificates, authenticate official documents and eliminate duplication of identity infrastructure across government.
Aside strengthening security, Coker-Odusote said the Act expands access to legal identity for vulnerable and underserved populations, promotes financial and social inclusion, improves confidence in digital transactions and creates the trusted digital ecosystem required to support President Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
She pledged that the Commission would implement the legislation with transparency, professionalism and the highest standards of data protection to ensure every Nigerian and legal resident benefits from a secure, inclusive and efficient digital identity system.
The NIMC Director-General applauded President Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Interior, development partners and stakeholders for supporting what she described as a transformative law that will shape Nigeria’s digital future for generations to come.
