The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians must now pay for their newly launched multi-purpose ID cards. According to NIMC Head of Card Management Services, Mr Peter Iwegbu, the decision comes as the government has limited revenue making it difficult to fund the production of the cards.
The announcement was made at a two-day press conference in Lagos. Mr Iwegbu explained that the charge aimed to ensure that only those who need it would request it, thus reducing waste.
“Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards, but a lot of them are still in our office because people didn’t need them,” he said.
The move also aims to address inefficiencies observed in previous attempts to distribute free ID cards, resulting in many unclaimed cards.
To ease the process, NIMC is working with banks across the country. Nigerians can visit participating banks to request and collect the cards. Special provisions have also been made for the underprivileged who cannot afford to buy the cards but require them for essential government services.
Highlighting the initiative, NIMC Director of Information Technology, Lanre Yusuf, said: As a “postpaid ID card”, it can be used for multiple purposes such as identity verification, payments and access to government services. The card is being offered by AfriGO in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Interbank Payments System. Yusuf confirmed that sample test cards have already been received, indicating that the card is ready for launch.
The initiative is part of a broader Federal Government strategy to digitize identity cards and streamline access to services across Ministries and Agencies (MDAs).
However, there are growing fears that the decision to charge for the cards could lead to public apathy. Some argue that the payment requirement could deter many Nigerians from applying for the cards, especially those already experiencing financial difficulties. This could undermine the government’s goal of expanding access to identification services.
Experts also warn that the apathy could reflect problems in previous distribution efforts, where more than 2 million free cards issued went unclaimed. They say imposing a fee on the cards could further exacerbate this trend, especially in rural areas where disposable income is limited and the need for the cards is less likely.
While NIMC justifies the fee as a necessary response to limited government resources, they question whether the policy is compatible with the goal of inclusiveness.
To counter potential apathy, experts suggest making the public more aware of the card’s multi-purpose features and its benefits, which include: Easier payments and access to government services. They say these features could encourage more people to view the card as an essential tool rather than an optional expense.
