The President assented to the legislation at the State House on Friday.
Confirming the development, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 in the State House on Friday.”
The National Identity Management Commission described the new law as a major step toward building a secure, inclusive and digitally driven nation. According to the Commission, the legislation repeals the NIMC Act of 2007 and replaces it with a more comprehensive framework designed to reflect global standards, emerging technologies and the growing demands of the digital economy.
NIMC explained that one of the most significant provisions of the Act is the designation of the Commission 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 Commission said the Act also authorises it to facilitate secure, seamless and interoperable data exchange between public institutions and private organisations, providing the legal foundation for a trusted digital economy.
“This 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,” the agency stated.
According to NIMC, the Act responds to the rapid expansion of digital services and evolving cybersecurity threats by strengthening Nigeria’s identity management system, improving digital trust, safeguarding citizens’ personal information and positioning the country to benefit from opportunities within the global digital economy.
The Commission noted that the law reinforces its position as the statutory authority overseeing the country’s national identity system while strengthening the principle of “one person, one management system in Nigeria.” It added that the legislation firmly establishes the National Identification Number (NIN) as the foundation for seamless identity verification and authentication across both government and private-sector platforms.
“Importantly, the Act positions NIMC at the centre of Nigeria’s digital trust architecture by assigning it strategic responsibility for the National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure,” it stated.
The agency further highlighted several key innovations contained in the new legislation, including stronger data protection and privacy safeguards, enhanced cybersecurity measures, secure digital identity and interoperability, the introduction of a general multipurpose card, improved inclusion for vulnerable groups and tougher anti-fraud provisions.
Speaking on the expected impact of the law, NIMC said its implementation would establish a trusted and interoperable digital identity ecosystem capable of providing easier access to public and private sector services while strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
“The implementation of the Act will deliver significant benefits by creating a trusted, secure, and interoperable digital identity ecosystem that enables seamless access to services across both the public and private sectors while strengthening electronic trust across Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Nigerians can expect wider, easier, and more convenient access to identity services, including for Nigerians in the Diaspora, stronger protection of personal data and privacy, enhanced cybersecurity, and greater confidence in digital transactions, faster, safer, and more secure identity verification and authentication.
“Through this landmark Act, President Tinubu has strengthened the legal foundation for Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure by designating NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for the National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure,” the Commission said.
It added that the reform would enhance the protection of citizens’ personal data, strengthen cybersecurity, promote trusted digital identity and authentication services, enable secure data exchange across government and private-sector platforms, improve access to essential services and support the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.