President Bola Tinubu on Friday has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, with stronger measures to protect Nigerians’ personal information and punish identity-related crimes.
The new law also sets tougher penalties for identity theft, multiple registration, unauthorised access to personal records and any abuse of the national identity system.
For many years, concerns have been raised about the safety of personal data in Nigeria as more services moved online. Cases of identity theft and misuse of personal information also created fears among citizens. The new law aims to build public trust by setting clear rules on how personal data should be handled and by making offenders face stricter punishment.
President Tinubu said the law makes it clear that the personal information of Nigerians must not be accessed carelessly or used for reasons outside the purpose for which it was collected.
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“The privacy of Nigerians must be protected, and this law makes that clear,” he said.
He said the Act places the National Identity Management Commission at the centre of Nigeria’s digital identity system. This will help provide verified identities, secure digital transactions and trusted digital signatures.
The President also said the National Identification Number will play a bigger role in accessing important services. These include passports, voter registration, bank accounts, land transactions, telecommunications, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit and government services.
Tinubu said he directed that the law must also protect vulnerable people, underserved communities and Nigerians living abroad.
“No Nigerian should be locked out of opportunity because they lack a trusted identity,” he said.
He said the Act improves the way NIMC is managed by expanding representation on its board and strengthening accountability.
Tinubu warned that anyone who forges identities, steals the identity of another person or abuses the identity system will face the consequences of the law.
“We will not tolerate those who forge identities, steal the identities of others, or exploit the system,” he said.
The President thanked the National Assembly, the Minister of Interior, NIMC, development partners and Nigerians who supported the passage of the law.
He said the new legal framework will help build a safer, more inclusive and more prosperous Nigeria.