President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, a move the Federal Government says will strengthen Nigeria’s identity management system, enhance national security and improve access to public services.
The signing ceremony took place on Friday at the State House, Abuja, in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, World Bank representative Taimur Samad and NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
Speaking after the signing, Tunji-Ojo described the new law as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms to modernise identity management and strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The minister disclosed that the integration of Nigeria’s identity databases recently enabled security agencies to arrest seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders who were returning from the Hajj pilgrimage.
According to him, the suspects were intercepted at the Katsina airport last Thursday and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
Tunji-Ojo attributed the arrests to the successful integration of the NIMC database with the Nigeria Immigration Service and international security platforms.
“When Mr President came on board, we had a disconnected identity management system. Today, you cannot obtain a Nigerian passport without pulling data from NIMC. Our immigration database is now integrated with NIMC and connected to Interpol 24/7, making it possible to identify and intercept security threats,” he said.
He noted that the new legislation would accelerate the harmonisation of identity databases, strengthen the integrity of the National Identity Number (NIN), improve inter-agency collaboration and boost Nigeria’s capacity to tackle identity theft, terrorism, financial crimes and other security challenges.
Senate President Akpabio welcomed the presidential assent, describing the legislation as a reflection of the National Assembly’s commitment to enacting laws that address Nigeria’s changing security and development needs.
He said the Act would strengthen public confidence in the country’s identity management framework and aligns with President Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Similarly, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu described the legislation as a transformative reform that would improve governance, promote accountability and support national development through a credible identity management system.
He noted that the previous NIMC Act of 2007 had become outdated and said the new law provides a legal framework better suited to Nigeria’s current digital realities.
Also speaking, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote said the Act represents a significant step towards building a trusted and inclusive digital identity ecosystem.
According to her, the legislation reinforces the National Identification Number (NIN) as the cornerstone of identity verification in Nigeria while introducing reforms that will strengthen the country’s digital public infrastructure and improve access to government and private-sector services.
She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to implementing the provisions of the Act in collaboration with government agencies, development partners and the private sector.