Wetin dey inside di new NIMC Act 2026 Tinubu sign into law - wetin e mean for you

President Bola Tinubu don sign di 2026 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act into law.

Di Nigerian leader during di signing on Friday for di State House Abuja, Nigeria capital, tok say dis new Act go give di kontri, modern, secure and digital identity framework wey dey fit for di Nigeria wey dem dey build, di Nigeria wey dey on di path to becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

"For nearly twenty years, Nigeria identity system bin dey operate under one law wey dey write for a different era. Dat era don pass," Tinubu tok.

E add say under dis new law, nobody go fit access your personal information without your consent. Nobody go fit use your data beyond di reason why you release am and anybody wey wan access your data must go through proper legal channels.

"Dis na your right as a Nigerian, and dis law protect am."

President Tinubu also warn dos wey dey forge pipo identities, pipo wey dey register multiple times or tiff di identities of odas say dis new law go expose dem, and im don increase di penalties by up to 100 times.

"Fines of up to ₦20 million for corporate bodies. Minimum five years' imprisonment for unauthorised access, multiple registration and impersonation. Di Commission now get court-authorised powers to investigate, search, seize evidence, decrypt data and arrest offenders. We no go tolerate am," e tok.

How NIMC ID help immigration arrest suspected Iswap and Boko Haram commanders

Di Minister of Interiors Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo wey attend di signing tok say dis new law don cancel and replace di NIMC Act of 2007.

According to di Minister, di new law go accelerate di harmonisation of identity databases, improve di integrity of di National Identity Number (NIN) system, improve inter-agency collaboration, and strengthen Nigeria capacity to combat identity theft, terrorism, financial crimes plus oda security threats.

E reveal say dem use di existing network of databases to arrest seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and di Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as dem dey return from di 2026 Hajj pilgrimage through di Umaru Musa Yar'Adua International Airport for Katsina State.

According to di minister, dem catch di suspects for Katsina airport on Thursday last week and hand dem va to di State Security Service (SSS, wey also dey know as DSS).

"I dey happy to tell you say even last week Thursday, dem arrest seven of di known commanders of Boko Haram and ISWAP for Katsina state as dem dey come back from Mecca, and dem hand dem ova to DSS."

Di minister no disclose di identities of di suspects, weda dem bin dey on security watchlists bifor dem travel go Saudi Arabia, how dem get dia travel clearance or weda dem don formally dey charged.

E also no make am clear if di suspects bin travel wit Nigerian passports or weda dem dey on any domestic or international watchlists.

But Oga Tunji-Ojo say di arrest of di suspects bin only dey possible becos dem don already connect NIMC ID to immigration data base, and already e dey follow Interpol relate steady.

Wetin di new NIMC law mean for you

Di presido say wit dis new law, e mean say your National Identification Number go now dey required for passports, voter registration, bank accounts, land transactions, telecoms, pensions, insurance, tax payments, consumer credit and all govment services. One person. One identity. One number.

Di NIMC Act 2026 also introduce di General Multipurpose Card. One Card, Multiple Possibilities. One single ID card wey you fit use for verification across evri sector.

Wetin dis one mean na say your National Identification Number (NIN) go now serve as gateway to govment services, wey include;

1. Passports

2. Voter registration

3. Bank accounts

4. Land transactions

5. Telecommunications

6. Pensions

7. Insurance

8. Tax payments

8. Consumer credit and government services.

For Nigerians wey dey diaspora, Oga Tinubu say dis Act guarantee wider, easier and more convenient access to identity services anywia dem dey for di world.

Di Act also create Identifier system for vulnerable pipo, including pipo wey no get permanent residences.

Tinubu add say im don compulsory special measures to bring underserved Nigerians into di identity system. E go expand financial and social inclusion as e go connect evri Nigerian to di digital economy through one trusted identity.

Bifor now, pesin go need different ID for evritin - for passports, one for driving, anoda one for banking (BVN), but wit dis new NIMC Act, all di different govment agencies go link dia systems togeda, and your NIN go be di only ID you go need present to access any govment services.

Di implementation of di Act according to di minister of interior go deliver ogbonge benefits to Nigerians as e go create trusted and secure digital identity ecosystem dem to fit access services across public and private sectors easily.

E go also strengthen electronic trust across Nigeria digital economy.

With dis new law, Nigerians, even dos wey dey in di diaspora fit expect wider, easier and more convenient access to identity services.

E go provide stronger protection of personal data and privacy.

Enhanced cybersecurity and greater confidence for digital transactions, faster, safer and more secure identity verification and authentication, plus stronger foundation for Nigeria's digital economy, digital governance and long term national development.