The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute individuals and organizations illegally printing and selling unauthorized National Identification Number (NIN) cards.
The Commission, in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, on Monday, reaffirmed that the NIN slip remains the only legally recognized document for identification in Nigeria, pending the launch of its General Multipurpose Card (GMPC).
NIMC warned that cyber cafes and fraudsters have been exploiting Nigerians by issuing fake NIN cards for exorbitant fees, misleading the public into believing they hold official identification.
The Commission emphasized that no individual or organization has been authorized to print any NIN card, stating that such actions violate the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
“The so-called NIN card is not authorized by NIMC, and on no account should anyone present it as a means of identification,” the statement read.
“Security agencies have been mandated to apprehend those involved, and anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law.”
Despite the crackdown on illegal NIN cards, NIMC has yet to roll out its much-anticipated General Multipurpose Card, which was first announced in April last year.
The card, developed in partnership with AfriGO, a local payment platform, is expected to serve as both a physical identification document and a financial transaction tool.
During a recent press conference, NIMC Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that the GMPC is designed to support government and private sector initiatives, offering biometric security, offline and online transaction capabilities, and a long validity period.
However, the uncertainty surrounding its launch has fueled the rise of illegal alternatives, as many Nigerians seek physical identification beyond the NIN slip.
Unlike previous failed attempts to distribute free national ID cards, NIMC has confirmed that Nigerians will have to pay for the new multipurpose card. **Dr. Peter Iwegbu, Head of Card.
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