The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said Nigerian would have to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card.
The head of management card services at the commission, Dr. Peter Iwegbu, disclosed this at an interaction with journalists in Lagos, citing limited government revenue as the primary reason for the decision.
Developed by AfriGo, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) the new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services.
It is designed to support government intervention programmes and services across various ministries, departments, and agencies.
Iwegbu said the payment is meant to ensure that the card is produced for only those who need it, adding that the approach aims to avoid repeating past mistakes where physical cards were issued for free, but many were left uncollected.
“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card.
“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 said.
Corroborating, the director of information technology at NIMC, Mr. Lanre Yusuf said the idea of a free national ID card did not turn out well in the past.
He said the new ID card as a post-paid identity card, emphasising that individuals must need the card before initiating a request for 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 the chosen location.
“The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support. This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality,” Yusuf said.
He also said the new ID card would be launched soon, adding that the commission had already received sample test cards.
Furthermore, he announced that NIMC was working with banks across the country to make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.
