Nigerians To Pay For National ID Cards For The First Time – NIMC

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will now be required to pay for the new multipurpose national identity cards due to limited government funds.

Peter Iwegbu, the head of card management services at NIMC, revealed this during a press conference in Lagos on Thursday.

Iwegbu explained that the decision to introduce a payment model is aimed at ensuring that only those who genuinely need the cards will apply for them. He pointed out that in the past, physical cards were issued for free but many went uncollected, which led to inefficiencies. By charging for the cards, NIMC hopes to streamline production and distribution while making better use of resources.

The new identity cards are designed to serve multiple purposes, such as identification, financial transactions, and accessing government services. Iwegbu shared that, before the halt in production due to funding issues, over two million cards were produced. However, many of these cards remained uncollected because individuals did not find them necessary.

He also noted that limited government revenue played a significant role in the decision to charge for the cards. “The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” Iwegbu said.

NIMC is working with banks across the country to make it easier for Nigerians to obtain the cards. People will be able to visit any bank near them to request the new ID card.

Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s director of information technology, commented on the previous free national ID card initiative, stating that it was not successful. Yusuf described the new card as a “post-paid identity card,” meaning individuals will need to have a genuine requirement for the card before requesting 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 there,” Yusuf explained. He added that the government has put measures in place to help less privileged Nigerians who may need the card but cannot afford it. This, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Yusuf also announced that the new multipurpose ID cards would be launching soon, with sample test cards already distributed. These cards are expected to serve various functions, including identity verification, payments, and access to government services.

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