The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will be required to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card, citing limited government revenue as the key reason for the decision.
At a two-day roundtable for journalists in Lagos, Peter Iwegbu, Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, explained that the payment system is intended to ensure that the card is issued only to those who genuinely need it. He noted that previous attempts to issue free national identity cards resulted in over two million cards being produced, many of which were never collected.
Iwegbu further explained that the government’s limited revenue is another significant factor behind the decision to charge for the new ID card. Lanre Yusuf, the Director of Information Technology at NIMC, also addressed the issue, explaining that the free ID card initiative had not been successful in the past. He described the new ID card as a post-paid system, meaning individuals must first express a need for the card before making a payment and selecting a pickup location.
Yusuf added that the government has launched programs to ensure that less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford the card, but require it to access government services, will still be able to obtain it. This initiative, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.
The new multipurpose national ID cards are set to launch soon, with sample test cards already distributed. Yusuf also highlighted the card’s versatile functionality, stating that it will serve not only as an identity verification tool but also for payments and accessing various government services.
The card, developed in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), is powered by AfriGO and is designed to support government intervention programs and services across several ministries, departments, and agencies.
