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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has revealed that Nigerians will need to pay for the new multipurpose national Identity card due to limited government revenue.
According to Dr Peter Iwegbu, Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, the payment is necessary to ensure that the card is produced only for those who genuinely need it.
Also speaking, the Director of Information Technology at NIMC, Mr Lanre Yusuf, 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 meant 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 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 said.
He noted that the multipurpose ID cards were expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.
Yusuf added that the NIMC had partnered with banks for Nigerians to request and collect their cards from any bank branch to facilitate a seamless experience.
“NIMC is 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.
“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.
This decision was made to avoid repeating the mistake of past efforts to issue free National ID cards, which many Nigerians failed to collect.
In fact, over two million cards produced in a previous attempt remained uncollected. The government’s limited revenue is also a significant factor in this decision.
The new ID card is designed to be a post-paid identity card, meaning individuals must need the card before requesting it.
To obtain the card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location.
Notably, the government has implemented programs to make the card accessible to 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.
The multipurpose ID cards are expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received. NIMC has partnered with banks to facilitate a seamless experience, allowing Nigerians to request and collect their cards from any bank branch.
He noted that the multipurpose ID cards were expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.
Yusuf added that the NIMC had partnered with banks for Nigerians to request and collect their cards from any bank branch to facilitate a seamless experience.
“NIMC is 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.
“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.
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