***Akpabio, Tunji-Ojo, NIMC DG hail landmark reform after 19-year legal overhaul

President Bola Tinubu on Friday took a major step towards repositioning Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem after assenting to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, a landmark legislation expected to strengthen national security, improve governance, deepen digital inclusion, and accelerate the country’s march towards a $1 trillion economy.

The new law replaces the 19-year-old legal framework governing identity management in Nigeria, introducing sweeping reforms that officials say will transform the National Identification Number (NIN) into the trusted foundation for identity verification, digital transactions, and public service delivery.

Speaking after the signing ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the legislation marked a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that it would significantly improve economic planning, infrastructure development, immigration management, and national security.

According to him, a reliable and integrated digital identity system would enable the government to make better decisions on the location of hospitals, industries, and other public infrastructure while strengthening border management and migration control.

“I believe strongly that this will improve digital awareness in Nigeria. It will help the economy, infrastructure planning, immigration, and migration. At the end of the day, Nigeria will be better for it. Digital identity will now be better managed,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President disclosed that the National Assembly subjected the bill to rigorous legislative scrutiny, including public hearings and international benchmarking, to ensure the legislation meets global standards.

“We did not pass it quickly. We conducted public hearings and even sent people outside Nigeria to study what obtains in other countries because we wanted legislation that would outlive us and serve generations of Nigerians,” he said.

Akpabio said the legislation aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and has already begun impacting national security through the integration of identity databases with security platforms.

According to him, security agencies recently intercepted suspected terrorists after their identities were detected through interconnected digital databases, describing the development as evidence of the growing importance of digital identity in combating crime.

He added that ongoing constitutional reforms, including proposals on state policing, would further reinforce the country’s security architecture.

“We have done the same thing for over 60 years with persistent insecurity. It is important that we embrace reforms that will benefit all Nigerians.
“One thing is certain: Nigeria will never remain the same again after President Bola Tinubu leaves office because of his initiatives, his vision, and his passion to ensure that the right things are done for the country.”

Also speaking, Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the legislation as a forward-looking reform that demonstrates the administration’s resolve to solve tomorrow’s challenges today.

“This is fantastic. Once again, it shows that this government understands what it takes to solve the future problems of Nigeria,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo applauded the National Assembly for supporting the Executive’s reform agenda and commended NIMC Director-General, Engr (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for championing the legal reforms needed to reposition the Commission.

He said the Act provides the legal framework for harmonising identities, synchronising national databases, promoting interoperability across government institutions and facilitating secure digital authentication.

Without disclosing operational details, the minister stressed that the legislation would serve as the legal backbone of Nigeria’s future security architecture.

“It’s about identity management, harmonising identities, synchronising databases and ensuring interoperability with secure handshakes. This will be the foundation of our security architecture,” he said.

In her remarks, NIMC Director-General, Coker-Odusote, described the President’s assent as a historic milestone that closes a legal gap which had persisted for nearly two decades despite the rapid evolution of digital technology.

She said the Act establishes a modern legal framework for Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure by reinforcing the National Identification Number as the country’s single trusted identity credential for citizens and legal residents.

According to her, the legislation introduces stronger safeguards for personal data, enhanced cybersecurity, legal backing for the National Public Key Infrastructure, secure digital authentication, encryption and digital signatures.

She explained that the law also empowers NIMC to function as the Federal Government’s Root Certificate Authority, enabling Ministries, Departments and Agencies to issue trusted digital certificates, authenticate official documents and eliminate duplication of identity infrastructure across government.

Beyond strengthening security, Coker-Odusote said the Act expands access to legal identity for vulnerable and underserved populations, promotes financial and social inclusion, improves confidence in digital transactions and creates the trusted digital ecosystem required to support President Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

She pledged that the Commission would implement the legislation with transparency, professionalism and the highest standards of data protection to ensure every Nigerian and legal resident benefits from a secure, inclusive and efficient digital identity system.

The NIMC Director-General applauded President Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Interior, development partners and stakeholders for supporting what she described as a transformative law that will shape Nigeria’s digital future for generations to come.