NIMC Explains Why Nigerians Must Make Payment for New Multipurpose National ID card

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will have to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card due to limited government revenue.

The announcement was made at a Two-day Press Conference in Lagos by the Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, Peter Iwegbu who spoke with journalists about the new development. 

According to Iwegbu, paying for the identity card would ensure it is produced for only those who needed it.

He further explained that the decision was made to avoid repeating the mistake of past efforts to issue physical cards to Nigerians for free, which many did not collect.

The NIMC official revealed rhat over two million cards were produced in a previous attempt to issue free national ID cards by the commission

He said many of them have not been collected till date.“Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards but a lot of them are still in our office, people didn’t pick them up because they didn’t need it,” Iwegbu said.

Aside from low collection, Iwegbu said the government could not fund the production of ID cards due to limited revenue.

“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” he added.

He said NIMC is also working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.

Also speaking, Lanre Yusuf, director of information technology at NIMC, said the idea of a free national ID card did not turn out well in the past.

Yusuf described the new ID card as a post-paid identity card, which means that individuals must need the card before initiating a request for it.

“To get the new national ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location,” the director said.

Meanwhile, the NIMC, Director of Information Technology has also revealed that “The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.

“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.” 

Yusuf also said the multipurpose ID cards are expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.

“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he revealed.