Nigeria signs new NIMC Act 2026, expands digital identity and PKI powers

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2026, repealing the 2007 law and overhauling Nigeria’s identity system. The act gives NIMC responsibility for digital identity, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), making it the country’s root certification authority for securing online transactions and managing cryptographic certificates.

It shifts from the physical General Multi-Purpose Card to a technology-neutral framework, allowing Nigerians to prove identity via smartphone apps, QR codes, biometrics or digital wallets—similar to systems in India, Estonia, Singapore and Kenya. The law also brings NIMC under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, requiring consent for third‑party access to the National Identity Database and obliging NIMC to disclose how data will be used at enrolment.

Enforcement is strengthened: unauthorized database access draws a minimum five‑year jail term or ₦10 million fine for individuals, and at least ₦20 million for companies, with executives potentially facing personal liability. The act also mandates special enrolment channels for vulnerable groups without permanent addresses to prevent exclusion from essential services.

Will you rely on digital ID via app or QR code for banking and govt services, and how will stronger data‑protection rules affect your willingness to share personal information online?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/07/02/new-nimc-law-turns-identity-into-critical-digital-infrastructure/