The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Friday announced that Nigerians will need to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card.
Edum News reports that the decision according to the NIMC is due to limited government revenue.
NIMC also explained that this approach is to avoid repeating past mistakes where physical cards were issued for free, but many were left uncollected.
The Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, Peter Iwegbu, who made the revelation said, “The payment is to ensure that the card is produced for only those who need it. 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.
“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card. The idea of a free national ID card did not turn out well in the past. 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 programs 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. NIMC is working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.”
