Tunji-Ojo Explains What NIMC Act 2026 Means For Nigerians

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo says the new National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 will expand access to identity services and strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity system.

Channels TV reported that President Bola Tinubu assented to the law on Friday. The Act repeals and replaces the NIMC Act of 2007.

According to Channels TV, the new law designates NIMC as the root certification authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure.

The Act also gives NIMC a role in secure data exchange among ministries, departments, agencies, private organisations and other authorised bodies.

Tunji-Ojo said the law would help Nigerians at home and in the diaspora access identity services more easily.

He said it would also strengthen personal data protection, cybersecurity, identity verification and digital transactions.

The law positions the NIMC General Multipurpose Card as a national identity credential under the theme, “One Card, Multiple Possibilities.”

Daily Trust reported that NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote applauded Tinubu for signing the Act, saying it closed a gap in the legal framework for identity management.

Coker-Odusote said the Act reinforces the National Identification Number as the basis for identity verification and authentication across the country.

She said it also provides legal backing for public key infrastructure, digital authentication, encryption and digital signatures.

Daily Trust reported that the law is expected to support access to legal identity for vulnerable and underserved groups.

Punch also reported the NIMC Act 2026 explainer angle, including penalties for identity-related offences.

This story is a follow-up to earlier reporting on NIMC database integration in security screening. The new angle is the legal and digital-governance framework created by the Act.

Sources: Channels TV, Daily Trust, Punch metadata