NIMC Announces New National Identity Card to be Issued by Banks

Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that the issuance of the new National Identity Card will be facilitated by banks, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for multiple cards, Aso Naija Reports.

According to a statement released by Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, the new National Identity Card will be a single, convenient, and multipurpose card known as the General Multipurpose Card (GMPC).

Subsequently, this card will have various applications, including payments/financial transactions, government services, and travel.

The Nigerian government recently revealed its plan to introduce a new National Identification Number (NIN) system in the country. In collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIMC will work to incorporate payment and financial functionalities into the new identity card.

The card will operate on the AFRIGO card scheme, which is an indigenous scheme powered by the NIBSS (Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System).

To obtain the new National Identity Card, applicants will need to request it using their NIN through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices, or their respective banks.

The card will be issued by the applicants’ banks following existing protocols for the issuance of debit/credit cards.

Upon issuance, cardholders can either collect their cards from designated centers or have them delivered to a requested location at an additional cost borne by the applicants, as stated in the NIMC’s statement.