Tinubu Signs New NIMC Act Into Law, Empowers Security Agencies to Track Terrorists

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the repealed and re-enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Presidential Villa, was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other government officials.

The amended Act empowers NIMC to harmonise identity records, synchronise government databases, and improve interoperability among public institutions.

Senate President Akpabio, speaking to the press after the signing, disclosed that the integration of the NIMC database with the Ministry of Interior’s digital platforms recently enabled security agencies to identify and apprehend suspected terrorist operatives upon their arrival in Nigeria.

“Just last week, we were able to apprehend terrorist chiefs who were coming in from Saudi Arabia, in Katsina, of all places.

When they landed, they just put their names on the computer; it brought out that these are criminals, and they arrested them,” Akpabio said.