NIMC EXPLAINS WHY NIGERIANS MUST PAY FOR NEW NATIONAL ID CARDS
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GREATTRIBUNETVNEWS–The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will be required to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card.
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 .
Head of Card Management Services at NIMC Dr Peter Iwegbu disclosed this during a two-day roundtable for journalists in Lagos
“In the previous attempt to issue free National ID cards, over two million cards were produced, and many of them have not been collected till date. ” He noted
Yusuf disclosed that the multi-purpose ID card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payment, and even government services ”
The card, powered by AfriGO , was developed with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian interbank settlement System
This decision is aimed at avoiding a repeat of past mistakes where free national ID cards were issued but not collected. Iwegbu noted that over two million cards were produced in the previous attempt, but many remained uncollected. The government’s limited revenue is also a significant factor in this decision.
The new national ID card comes with various features, including payment and social service delivery capabilities. It can function as a debit and prepaid card, and it includes biometric authentication, offline capability, and a machine-readable zone for e-passport information .
To apply for the card, individuals can use the online requisition portal or visit a NIMC enrollment centre. The portal allows users to initiate a card request, select their preferred card type and bank, and choose a pickup location
