President Bola Tinubu signed the 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act into law on Friday. This is an important step for Nigeria to improve how it manages identities, boost national security, enhance public service delivery, and grow the digital economy.
The signing happened at the State House, Abuja. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, were present.
Also at the event were the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the World Bank representative, Taimur Samad; and the Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, called the signing of the Act a major achievement. He said it comes during reforms to improve internal security and access to government services.
He shared that the current network of databases helped catch some terrorists returning to Nigeria from pilgrimage last week. "Let me sincerely thank Mr President. The last time we had a NIMC programme, I called Mr President the Grand Innovator of the Federal Republic. I wasn’t joking. With this law, our security system can be improved.
"When Mr President came in, we had a disjointed system in our identity management. At that time, getting a passport and a driving permit was not connected to our identity database. But now, you can’t get a Nigerian passport without using NIMC data," Mr Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister stated that the new law will help link identity databases, make the National Identity Number (NIN) system stronger, improve cooperation between agencies, and boost Nigeria’s ability to fight identity theft, terrorism, financial crimes, and other security issues.
"What you see in immigration matches what is in the NIMC database. This has helped our border control. I remember the Senate President was shocked that some terrorists went on pilgrimage, wondering how they got past our borders. We inherited a broken system. But I’m pleased to tell you that last week, seven known Boko Haram and ISWAP leaders were caught at the airport in Katsina when trying to return from Mecca and were handed over to the DSS.
"This is only possible because NIMC’s ID links with the immigration database, and it connects to Interpol 24/7. We have automated this," the minister explained.
The Senate President praised the presidential approval. He said the Act shows the National Assembly’s commitment to making laws that respond to Nigeria’s changing security and development needs.
Mr Akpabio expressed hope that this law will build public trust in the country’s identity management system. He also credited the new NIMC law to President Tinubu's innovative and reform plans for Nigeria’s identity management.
According to Mr Akpabio, this new law fulfills the President’s promise to change Nigeria during his time in office. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, thanked the president for signing the new NIMC law. He called it a major reform that will help governance, promote accountability, and support national development with a reliable identity system.
"The world knows the NIMC Act of 2007 was outdated. They were watching to see when we would update that law to meet our current needs. They were waiting to hear from us when it would become a tool for building our nation.
"Mr President, today is a historic day for Nigeria’s digital change. It shows the Federal Government’s strong commitment to creating a trusted and inclusive identity system, something the President takes seriously to improve life for Nigerians," he said.
The Director-General of NIMC promised that the commission will work with relevant government bodies, development partners, and the private sector to implement the Act. She called the new law a big boost to the Commission’s mission.
"Mr President, your visionary leadership has again set Nigeria on a path of innovation and trust. This new law is not just an update; it is a big step into the future. For 19 years, the law guiding Nigeria’s identity management didn’t change while the digital world advanced.
"Now, that gap is closed. The NIMC Act 2026 creates a modern legal framework that strengthens Nigeria’s digital public services. It lays the groundwork for trusted identity and easy access to government and private services. The Act makes the National Identification Number the key to identity verification and authentication nationwide. It also brings in new ideas that fit today’s digital world," she said.
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