The Federal Government has commenced the full enforcement of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, officially establishing the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s only legally recognized means of identification. This statutory shift mandates a single-identity framework across the country, making the NIN the primary benchmark for verifying the identity of all citizens and legal residents.

The policy shift was heavily reinforced during a strategic meeting held in Abuja on Monday between the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the NIMC Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Odusote. Speaking on the development, Bagudu described the new legislation as a landmark reform designed to radically strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity architecture, optimize national governance, and support evidence-based policymaking.

Bagudu noted that the 2026 Act provides a significantly stronger, modernized legal framework capable of hosting a secure, trusted, and inclusive national identity system. However, the Minister stressed that the ultimate success of this legislative milestone relies entirely on aggressive, effective implementation and its ultimate ability to deliver tangible economic and social benefits to regular citizens.

To achieve seamless integration, the Minister called for immediate and deep collaboration among federal, state, and local government authorities. He emphasized that all tiers of government must work together to eliminate scattered, multiple identity databases across various agencies, thereby building total public confidence in the country’s unified identity management framework.

According to Bagudu, a single, comprehensive national identity database is critical for the country`s future survival and economic growth. He explained that a harmonized system provides the accurate demographic and socio-economic data desperately needed for long-term development planning, efficient resource allocation, and targeted public service delivery.

As Nigeria rapidly expands its digital footprint, the Minister also stressed that the government is prioritizing the safety of citizens` personal information. He maintained that strict data privacy protocols, heightened cybersecurity infrastructure, and stronger legal safeguards are being deployed concurrently to protect the expanding digital identity ecosystem from external breaches.

Earlier in the briefing, NIMC Director-General Dr. Abisoye Odusote explained that the newly enacted 2026 legislation completely repeals the outdated 2007 framework. She confirmed that the law legally solidifies the NIN as the nation`s foundational identifier under a strict “one person, one identity” policy, backed by heavily upgraded digital infrastructure and enhanced data protection provisions.