The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will now be required to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card, citing limited government revenue as the key reason for the decision.
Dr. Peter Iwegbu, the Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, made this revelation during a two-day roundtable for journalists in Lagos. He explained, “The payment will ensure that the card is produced only for those who truly need it.”
Iwegbu emphasized that the move is aimed at preventing a recurrence of past issues, where physical national ID cards were issued for free but left uncollected. “In the previous attempt to issue free National ID cards, over two million cards were produced, many of which remain uncollected to this day,” he stated.
Additionally, Dr. Iwegbu attributed the decision to the country’s financial constraints, adding, “The limited revenue available to the government is another significant reason for making the new ID card a paid service.”
Mr. Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s Director of Information Technology, also weighed in, noting, “The idea of a free national ID card didn’t work well in the past.” He described the new national ID card as a post-paid identity card, highlighting that individuals will only be able to request the card if they actually need it. “To obtain the new ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and collect the card from that location,” Yusuf explained.
In an effort to ensure inclusivity, Yusuf revealed that the government has launched programs to make the card accessible to Nigerians in need, particularly the less privileged. “This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality, ensuring that those who need the card to access government services can obtain it,” he added.
Yusuf also shared that the new multipurpose ID cards will soon be launched, with sample test cards already received. He further mentioned that NIMC is collaborating with banks across the country, enabling Nigerians to walk into any nearby bank to request the card.
