Tinubu Signs NIMC Bill Into Law, Strengthens National Security and Digital Economy

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The President signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law on Friday at the State House. The new law repeals and replaces the NIMC Act of 2007, establishing a modern, forward-looking legal framework that aligns Nigeria's identity ecosystem with global best practices, emerging technologies, and the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The Act empowers NIMC to ensure secure, interoperable, and seamless data exchange among all public and private entities, laying the legal and institutional foundation for a trusted digital economy. This landmark reform directly advances President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, strengthening national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery, and supporting the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria's aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

The agency further explained that the NIMC Act 2026 responds to the realities of rapid expansion of digital services and threats by modernising Nigeria's identity management framework, strengthening digital trust, protecting citizens' personal data, enhancing cybersecurity, and positioning the country to fully harness the opportunities presented by the global digital economy.

The NIMC Act 2026 positions NIMC at the centre of Nigeria's digital trust architecture by assigning it strategic responsibility for the National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure. Other key features of the law include robust data protection and privacy, national public key infrastructure (PKI), and digital public infrastructure (DPI), secure digital identity and interoperability, general multipurpose card, and inclusivity for vulnerable groups, and stronger anti-fraud measures.

The implementation of the Act will deliver significant benefits by creating a trusted, secure, and interoperable digital identity ecosystem that enables seamless access to services across both the public and private sectors while strengthening electronic trust across Nigeria's digital economy. Nigerians can expect wider, easier, and more convenient access to identity services, including for Nigerians in the Diaspora, stronger protection of personal data and privacy, enhanced cybersecurity, and greater confidence in digital transactions.

The historic reform would strengthen the protection of citizens' data, enhance cybersecurity, establish trusted digital identity and authentication services, enable secure and interoperable data exchange across government and private-sector platforms, expand access to essential services, and support the administration's vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy. The new law will create a digital identity ecosystem that underpins secure digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services across government and private-sector digital platforms.

The NIMC Act 2026 establishes NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria's National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), positioning the Commission as the nation's trusted authority responsible for digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services.

According to the NIMC, the Act enables the Commission to ensure secure, interoperable, and seamless data exchange among all public and private entities, laying the legal and institutional foundation for a trusted digital economy. The law will also enable Nigerians to access essential services such as finance, healthcare, and education, while strengthening electronic trust across the country's digital economy.

The President's decision to sign the NIMC Act 2026 into law demonstrates his commitment to driving digital transformation and strengthening national security in Nigeria. The new law will create a digital identity ecosystem that underpins secure digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services across government and private-sector digital platforms.

The NIMC Act 2026 establishes NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria's National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), positioning the Commission as the nation's trusted authority responsible for underpinning secure digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services across government and private-sector digital platforms. The law also enables the Commission to ensure secure, interoperable, and seamless data exchange among all public and private entities, laying the legal and institutional foundation for a trusted digital economy.

The new law will strengthen the protection of citizens' data, enhance cybersecurity, establish trusted digital identity and authentication services, enable secure and interoperable data exchange across government and private-sector platforms, expand access to essential services, and support the administration's vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy. Nigerians can expect wider, easier, and more convenient access to identity services, including for Nigerians in the Diaspora, stronger protection of personal data and privacy, enhanced cybersecurity, and greater confidence in digital transactions.

The NIMC Act 2026 marks a significant milestone in Nigeria's journey towards a secure, inclusive, and digitally empowered nation. The law will drive digital transformation, strengthen national security, expand financial and social inclusion, improve public service delivery, and support the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria's aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

And finally, the story's genuine context. Integrate it into the flow; do not make it a separate section. The President's decision to sign the NIMC Act 2026 into law is a significant move towards strengthening national security and driving digital transformation in Nigeria. The new law will create a digital identity ecosystem that underpins secure digital identity, authentication, and electronic trust services across government and private-sector digital platforms. This is a strategic step towards building a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria's aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

““The Act directly advances the President's Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating digital transformation, strengthening national security, expanding financial and social inclusion, improving public service delivery, and supporting the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria's aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.””

— NIMC

The NIMC Act 2026 will drive digital transformation, strengthen national security, expand financial and social inclusion, improve public service delivery, and support the development of a secure Digital Public Infrastructure capable of driving innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria's aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy. The law will enable Nigerians to access essential services such as finance, healthcare, and education, while strengthening electronic trust across the country's digital economy. The President's decision to sign the NIMC Act 2026 into law demonstrates his commitment to driving digital transformation and strengthening national security in Nigeria.