President Tinubu Enacts NIMC Act 2026 for Identity Management

On [exact date not provided], President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, which repeals and replaces the NIMC Act 2007. This new legislation aims to create a modern legal framework that aligns Nigeria's identity management ecosystem with global best practices and addresses the demands of an evolving digital economy.

Key highlights of the act include the establishment of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as the country's trusted authority for secure digital identity verification and authentication services across both government and private sector platforms. The law empowers NIMC to facilitate secure and seamless data exchange among ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as financial institutions and private organizations.

It also reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as the foundational identity credential in Nigeria, introducing stronger safeguards for personal data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and enhancing measures against identity theft. The signing ceremony featured notable figures, including Julius Ihonvbere, Benjamin Kalu, Godswill Akpabio, Lateef Fagbemi, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and representatives from the World Bank.