By Niyi Jacobs
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will be required to pay for the newly introduced multipurpose national identity cards due to limited government funding.
Speaking at a two-day press conference in Lagos on Thursday, Peter Iwegbu, Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, explained that this decision aims to ensure the cards are produced only for those who truly need them.
“We produced more than two million cards in previous attempts to issue free national ID cards, but many remain uncollected at our offices,” Iwegbu said, attributing the low collection rate to a lack of demand.
He further noted that the government’s constrained revenue played a significant role in the shift to a paid model. The commission is partnering with banks across the country to facilitate the distribution process, allowing citizens to request and pick up their ID cards at nearby branches.
Support for Low-Income Nigerians
Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s Director of Information Technology, highlighted measures to ensure inclusivity. “The government has made provisions to support less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford the cards but require them to access essential services,” he said.
Described as a “post-paid identity card,” individuals must pay, select a pickup location, and collect their cards upon production. The multipurpose cards will serve functions such as identity verification, payments, and access to government services.
The initiative, powered by AfriGO in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, is expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already in circulation.
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