The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, describing the legislation as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity architecture and improving governance through a unified national identity system.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, made this known during a strategic meeting with the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Abisoye Odusote, in Abuja.
Bagudu said the new law would enhance national planning by providing a more reliable, secure and inclusive identity management framework, while supporting evidence-based policymaking and improved public service delivery.
He commended the leadership of NIMC for securing the passage of the legislation after years of reform efforts, noting that the Act provides a stronger legal foundation for a trusted national identity system.
According to the minister, the success of the legislation will depend largely on its effective implementation and the tangible benefits it delivers to Nigerians.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Julie Osagie Jacobs, Bagudu called for stronger collaboration among the federal, state and local governments to eliminate multiple identity databases operated by public institutions.
He stressed that the National Identification Number (NIN) should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted means of identification to improve governance, public administration and service delivery.
Bagudu noted that a comprehensive national identity database would provide accurate demographic and socio-economic data needed for effective development planning, efficient resource allocation and the delivery of public services across all levels of government.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening data governance, privacy protection and cybersecurity as the country expands its digital identity ecosystem.
With emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence transforming the digital landscape, the minister urged NIMC to continuously review its policies and security safeguards to protect citizens’ data and ensure the resilience of Nigeria’s identity management framework.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 as a landmark achievement, coming after nearly two decades of legislative reform efforts.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Odusote, presented the new legislation, explaining that it repeals and replaces the 2007 NIMC Act and modernises Nigeria’s identity management system.
She said the Act establishes the National Identification Number (NIN) as the country’s foundational identity under the “one person, one identity” policy, designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure, and introduces stronger data protection and cybersecurity provisions.
Odusote added that the legislation also elevates the status of the NIN, strengthens digital public infrastructure and provides for the introduction of a general multi-purpose identity card.
President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law on June 26, 2026.
