The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will be required to pay for the new multipurpose national identity cards. The decision, according to the agency, is driven by limited government revenue and the need to produce cards only for those who genuinely require them.
This explanation was given by Dr. Peter Iwegbu, Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, during a two-day roundtable with journalists in Lagos. Speaking on Friday, he highlighted that the government’s past attempts to provide free ID cards faced significant challenges, including wastage.
“Over two million free ID cards were produced in the past, but many remain uncollected,” he said, emphasizing that the new approach is intended to avoid similar problems.
Mr. Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s Director of Information Technology, also shared insights into the project. He described the upcoming ID as a “post-paid identity card,” meaning individuals will only need to pay when they decide to request 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.
