President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the re-enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, replacing the 2007 legislation and ushering in a new era for Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. The new law strengthens data protection, enables seamless integration of government databases, enhances cybersecurity, and expands access to secure identity services. Here are eight key ways the Act is set to transform the management and use of national identity data:

1. Unify identity records by creating a more coordinated and reliable national identity database.
2. Enable secure data sharing among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and authorised private organisations through interoperable systems.
3. Strengthen data privacy by aligning identity management with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and global best practices.
4. Boost cybersecurity by establishing NIMC as Nigeria’s root certification authority for the National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
5. Enhance digital identity verification with faster, safer and more reliable authentication for government and private sector services.
6. Support seamless digital services by providing a trusted identity infrastructure that powers e-government, financial services and digital commerce.
7. Expand access to identity services for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora through more efficient and convenient digital identity solutions.
8. Promote a single, trusted identity ecosystem with the General Multipurpose Card under the theme “One Card, Multiple Possibilities,” reducing duplication and improving service delivery nationwide.