President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for national identity management.
The President assented to the legislation on Friday during a ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.
The development was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on his verified X account. 
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, in the State House on Friday,” Onanuga stated.
The newly enacted law is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the operations, administration, and responsibilities of the National Identity Management Commission, while enhancing the country’s identity registration and verification system.
The legislation is also expected to strengthen the management of Nigeria’s national identity database, improve coordination of identity-related services, and support the government’s broader digital governance and public service reforms.
Observers believe the Act will help reinforce the legal foundation for the issuance and management of the National Identification Number (NIN), promote more efficient identity verification processes, and improve access to government and private-sector services that rely on secure identity authentication.
Although the Presidency has yet to release the full details of the new legislation, more information on its key provisions, implementation timeline, and expected impact is anticipated in the coming days.
The signing of the NIMC Act 2026 forms part of the Tinubu administration’s ongoing efforts to modernise public institutions, strengthen digital infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of identity management across Nigeria.
