President Bola Tinubu on Friday signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, overhauling a framework that had remained unchanged for nearly two decades and delivering what officials described as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation and national security architecture.
The signing took place at the State House, Abuja, and witnessed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the representative of the World Bank, Taimur Samad; and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
The event was immediately overshadowed by a dramatic security disclosure from the Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who revealed that the country’s integrated identity database had been used just days earlier to arrest seven commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP as they returned from the Holy Pilgrimage in Mecca.
“Seven of the known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP at the point of coming back from Mecca were arrested in Katsina at the airport and were handed over to the DSS,” Tunji-Ojo told the gathering, adding that the arrests were made possible because NIMC’s identity system is now connected to the immigration database and linked to Interpol on a 24-hour basis.
The Minister painted a picture of a fragmented system the current administration inherited, noting that identity data was previously disconnected across agencies, passports, driving licences, and national identity records operated in silos. That gap, he said, has now been closed, with Nigerians now unable to obtain a passport without data drawn from the NIMC database.
The new law is expected to accelerate the harmonisation of identity databases across government agencies, enhance the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN) system, improve inter-agency collaboration, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat identity theft, terrorism and financial crimes.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Senate President, Akpabio welcomed the presidential assent, noting that the Act reflects the National Assembly’s commitment to enacting laws that address Nigeria’s evolving security and developmental needs.
Akpabio expressed confidence that the legislation would strengthen public confidence in the country’s identity management architecture.
He also attributed the new NIMC law to President Tinubu`s innovation and reform agenda in Nigeria`s National Identity Management System.
According to Akpabio, the new legislation aligns with the President`s promise to transform Nigeria during his tenure.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, commended the President for assenting to the new NIMC law, describing it as a transformative reform that will improve governance, promote accountability and support national development through a credible identity management system.
“The world is aware that the NIMC Act of 2007 was obsolete, and they have been monitoring that an effort was being made towards retooling, redefining, and re-equipping that piece of legislation to become what is fit for purpose, considering our current realities, and they were waiting to hear from us when it is going to become an instrument that we will use in building our nation.
“ Mr President, today marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation. It reflects the Federal Government’s bold commitment to building a robust, trusted and inclusive identity ecosystem, which is something that the President has taken seriously and also to better the lot of Nigerians,” he said.
On her part, the Director-General of NIMC reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to implementing the provisions of the Act in collaboration with relevant government institutions, development partners and the private sector to deliver a world-class digital identity system, describing the new law as a major boost to the Commission’s mandate.
“Mr President, your visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to digital transformation have once again positioned Nigeria for a future driven by innovation, trust and inclusion. This landmark legislation is not just an amendment to an existing law; it is a bold leap into the future. For 19 years, the legal framework governing Nigeria’s identity management system remained unchanged while the digital landscape evolved rapidly.
“Today, that gap has been closed. The NIMC Act 2026 establishes a modern legal framework that further strengthens Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure, laying the foundation for trusted identity and seamless access to government and private-sector services. It reinforces the National Identification Number as the cornerstone of identity verification and authentication nationwide. The Act also introduces critical innovations that respond to the realities of today’s digital world,” she said.
