“New National Identity Card is a single multipurpose card” — NIMC

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified that the new national identity card is a single, multipurpose card and not three separate cards as previously misunderstood.

This revelation was made by the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, in a note titled “Key Facts About the Proposed New General Multipurpose National Identity Card”.

The commission had earlier announced its collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System to launch a new card with payment functionality for various social and financial services.

Adegoke emphasized that the new national ID card is a single, convenient, and general multipurpose card, eliminating the need for multiple cards.

He stated, “The single GMPC has multiple use cases: payments/financial, government intervention/services, travel, etc.”

Applicants for the card will have to request it with their NIN (National Identification Number) through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices, or their respective banks.

Furthermore, the card will be issued through the applicants’ respective banks following existing protocols for the issuance of debit and credit cards.

Additionally, holders can pick up the card at designated centers or have it delivered to their requested location at an extra cost borne by the applicants.

The card, produced according to ICAO standards, is positioned as the country’s default national identity card, enabling eligible persons, particularly those financially excluded from social and financial services, to access multiple government intervention programs.