The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says Nigerians will need to pay for the new multipurpose national identity card due to limited government revenue.

Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, Dr Peter Iwegbu, disclosed this during a two-day roundtable for journalists in Lagos.

According to Iwegbu, “The payment is to ensure that the card is produced for only those who need it.”

He explained that this approach is to avoid a repeat of past mistakes where physical cards issued for free were eventually not collected by Nigerians.

“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.

Iwegbu added, “The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card.”

Also speaking on the development, 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.”

Yusuf described the new ID card as a post-paid identity card, stressing 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,” Yusuf explained.

He further mentioned programmes aimed at ensuring inclusivity, saying, “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.”

Yusuf disclosed that the multipurpose ID cards are set to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.

He added, “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.”

He further highlighted the card’s functionality, stating, “The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services.”

The card, powered by AfriGO, was developed in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System.

It is designed to support government intervention programs and services across various ministries, departments, and agencies.