NIMC Enrolment Hits 136 Million as Nigeria Begins Implementation of New Digital Identity Law

Nigeria’s digital identity database has surpassed 136 million enrolments, marking a significant milestone as the Federal Government begins implementing the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026.

The development was announced by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during a stakeholder engagement visit to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

According to NIMC, the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 replaces the commission’s 2007 establishing legislation and introduces a modern legal framework for digital identity management.

Coker-Odusote said the law formally positions the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity credential under the government’s “one person, one identity” initiative.

The legislation also designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, while introducing enhanced provisions for cybersecurity, data protection, and digital credential management.

“The Federal Government remains committed to enrolling and issuing NINs to all Nigerians and legal residents within the shortest possible time,” she said.

The NIMC chief added that the commission is seeking closer collaboration with economic planning authorities to leverage identity data for policy formulation, service delivery, and national development programmes.

Speaking during the engagement, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the new law as a major step towards strengthening the country’s digital identity ecosystem.

Bagudu said the legislation provides a stronger legal foundation for secure and inclusive identity management while supporting economic planning and governance.

He, however, stressed that the success of the law would depend on effective implementation and its ability to deliver measurable benefits to citizens.

“The true measure of the Act’s success will lie in its effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to citizens,” he said.

The minister also called for deeper cooperation among federal, state, and local government institutions to eliminate fragmented identity databases and establish the NIN as the country’s universally accepted identity standard.

This comes weeks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law on June 26.

Following the signing, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity, cybersecurity, and digital authentication framework while reinforcing the NIN as the central identity credential for citizens and legal residents.