- Ushering in new era of digital identity in Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law, the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026.
Widely regarded as a landmark legislation, NIMC Act 2026 marks a transformative milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a secure, inclusive and digitally empowered nation.
The new Act repeals and replaces the NIMC Act of 2007. It establishes a modern, forward-looking legal framework that aligns Nigeria’s identity ecosystem with global best practices, emerging technologies and the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
A defining feature of the new Act is the designation of NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), thereby establishing the Commission as the nation’s trusted authority responsible for underpinning secure digital identity, authentication and electronic trust services across government and private-sector digital platforms.
The Act further empowers NIMC to ensure secure, interoperable and seamless data exchange among all public and private entities, laying the legal and institutional foundation for a trusted digital economy.
For Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the DG of NIMC, “the landmark reform directly advances President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, strengthening national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery and supporting the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth and Nigeria’s aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy”.
Why the New Law Was Necessary
Nearly two decades after the 2007 Act laid the foundation for Nigeria’s National Identity System, the global digital landscape has changed dramatically.
The rapid expansion of digital services, e-governance, electronic commerce, data protection requirements and evolving cybersecurity threats created an urgent need for a more robust and contemporary legal framework.
The NIMC Act 2026 responds to these realities by modernising Nigeria’s identity management framework, strengthening digital trust, protecting citizens’ personal data, enhancing cybersecurity and positioning the country to fully harness the opportunities presented by the global digital economy.
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