President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity system, protecting citizens’ data, and expanding access to public and private services through a unified national identity framework.
Announcing the development, President Tinubu said the new legislation replaces a law that had governed Nigeria’s identity system for nearly two decades, describing it as a modern framework designed to support the country’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
Under the new law, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) becomes Nigeria’s Root Certification Authority for the country’s National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure. This gives the commission the authority to manage digital trust, including digital signatures, secure electronic transactions, and identity verification.
Tinubu said the Act also strengthens the protection of Nigerians’ personal data by aligning the identity system with the Nigerian Data Protection Act. According to him, personal information cannot be accessed without the owner’s consent, used beyond its intended purpose, or obtained outside lawful procedures.
One of the major provisions of the law makes the National Identification Number (NIN) compulsory for accessing several essential services, including passport applications, voter registration, bank account operations, land transactions, telecommunications services, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit, and government services.
The President also announced the introduction of a General Multipurpose Card, describing it as a single identity credential that can be used for verification across different sectors of the economy.
According to Tinubu, the legislation prioritises the inclusion of vulnerable Nigerians by creating a special identifier system for people without permanent residences and requiring measures to integrate underserved communities into the national identity database.
He added that the Act also improves access to identity services for Nigerians living abroad, making it easier for citizens in the diaspora to obtain identity-related services.
The law further restructures the governing board of NIMC, expanding it to include representatives from 14 key government institutions, including INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Department of State Services, the National Population Commission, and other strategic agencies.
To strengthen governance, the Act stipulates that the Chairman of the commission must possess at least 15 years of relevant professional experience, while commissioners must have a minimum of 10 years. It also requires the Chairman and five commissioners to represent the country’s six geopolitical zones.
The President warned that the government would take a tougher stance against identity-related crimes under the new law.
He disclosed that penalties for offences such as identity theft, multiple registration, unauthorised access to identity data, and impersonation have been increased significantly. Corporate offenders may now face fines of up to ₦20 million, while individuals convicted of serious identity offences could receive a minimum prison sentence of five years.
The Commission has also been granted court-authorised powers to investigate offences, conduct searches, seize evidence, decrypt data, and arrest suspected offenders.
Tinubu commended the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Joint Committee on Identity and National Population Commission, for facilitating the passage of the legislation.
He also acknowledged the Minister of the Interior, development partners, including Identity for Development (ID4D), the management and staff of NIMC, and Nigerians for supporting what he described as a landmark reform.
The President said the NIMC Act 2026 represents a major step toward building a secure, inclusive, and digitally driven Nigeria under his Renewed Hope Agenda.
