The Federal Government has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, making the National Identification Number (NIN) mandatory for access to a broad range of public and private sector services in a move set to significantly reshape Nigeria’s digital identity landscape.
The new legislation, signed by President Bola Tinubu, represents the most far-reaching overhaul of Nigeria’s identity management framework in nearly two decades, replacing the law that has governed the country’s identity ecosystem since 2007, according to the government.
Under the new Act, Nigerians will be required to present their NIN for critical services including passport applications, voter registration, opening and operating bank accounts, land transactions, telecommunications services, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit facilities and virtually all government services.
Under the new Act, Nigerians will be required to present their NIN for critical services including passport applications, voter registration, opening and operating bank accounts, land transactions, telecommunications services, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit facilities and virtually all government services.
The expanded application of the NIN is expected to deepen identity verification across government agencies and private institutions, reduce identity duplication and improve access to public services.
Announcing the signing of the legislation, President Tinubu says the law provides Nigeria with “a modern, secure and digital identity framework fit for the Nigeria we are building, a Nigeria on the path to becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.”
NIN: NIMC becomes Nigeria’s digital trust authority
Beyond broadening the mandatory use of the NIN, the Act places the National Identity Management Commission at the centre of Nigeria’s digital economy by designating the agency as the Root Certification Authority for the country’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
The new mandate effectively positions NIMC as the foundation of trust for secure digital interactions across the economy.
“With this,” Tinubu says, “NIMC now holds the keys to trust in our digital economy: every digital signature, every secure transaction, and every verified identity.”
Industry observers say the development could accelerate the adoption of digital services, electronic transactions and secure identity verification across both the public and private sectors.
Beyond broadening the mandatory use of the NIN, the Act places the National Identity Management Commission at the centre of Nigeria’s digital economy by designating the agency as the Root Certification Authority for the country’s National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
The NIMC Act 2026 also strengthens legal protections for personal information by aligning Nigeria’s identity management framework with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
According to the President, the legislation expressly safeguards the privacy of Nigerians by ensuring that personal information cannot be accessed without consent or used beyond the purpose for which it was collected, except through lawful procedures.
“I will not allow the data of Nigerians to be treated carelessly,” Tinubu says.
“This Act aligns our identity system with the Nigerian Data Protection Act. The Act expressly says your personal information cannot be accessed without your consent. It cannot be used beyond the purpose for which you gave it, and any access must go through proper legal channels.”
NIN: Single identity card for multiple services
A major feature of the new law is the introduction of a General Multipurpose Card, a unified identity credential designed for use across multiple sectors.
The initiative is expected to reduce Nigerians’ dependence on multiple identity documents for accessing different services.
In a bid to strengthen inclusion, the law also establishes a dedicated identification framework for vulnerable populations, including individuals without permanent residences, while mandating measures to enrol underserved communities into the national identity database.
According to Tinubu, the reforms are designed to ensure that every Nigerian can participate fully in the country’s expanding digital economy.
The legislation further extends identity services to Nigerians living abroad by guaranteeing broader and more convenient access to NIMC services in the Diaspora.
Tougher penalties for identity crimes
The Act significantly stiffens sanctions for identity-related offences.
Corporate organisations found guilty of identity-related violations now face fines of up to ₦20 million.
Offences such as unauthorised access to identity data, multiple enrolment and identity impersonation now attract a minimum prison term of five years.
The Commission has also been granted court-authorised powers to investigate offences, search premises, seize evidence, decrypt data and arrest individuals involved in identity-related crimes.
“There will be no tolerance for it,” Tinubu says.
To strengthen institutional governance, the legislation reconstitutes NIMC’s Governing Board to include representatives from 14 strategic government institutions.
The agencies represented include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Population Commission (NPC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The law also introduces stricter eligibility criteria for board appointments and guarantees geo-political representation within the Commission’s leadership structure.
President Tinubu commended the leadership of the National Assembly, the Joint Committee on Identity and National Population Commission, the Minister of Interior, development partners including the Identity for Development (ID4D) initiative, as well as the management and staff of NIMC for supporting the passage of what he describes as landmark legislation.
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