NINETEEN years after the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, Nigeria has taken a significant step towards unifying its fragmented identity ecosystem. With President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the amended NIMC Act on June 26, the commission now has a broader legal mandate to harmonise identity records of Nigerians, strengthen digital authentication and curb identity theft.
The repeal of the 2007 law and its replacement with a more expansive legal framework reflect the increasing centrality of digital identity to governance, commerce and national security. If properly implemented, the law could become one of the most consequential institutional reforms in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The amended Act designates the NIMC as the Root Certification Authority for Nigeria’s National Public Key Infrastructure and Digital Public Infrastructure. This gives the commission statutory authority to manage secure electronic signatures, authentication systems and digital trust services, providing the legal foundation for secure digital transactions
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