The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised concerns over the unauthorised printing of National Identification Number (NIN) cards by unscrupulous individuals, cyber cafes and organisations that exploit unsuspecting citizens by charging exorbitant fees.
The commission clarified that it has not authorised any individual or organisation to print alternative NIN cards in place of the official NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC). Such activities, it warned, are a direct violation of the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
NIMC urged the public and organizations to refrain from printing or accepting these unauthorized cards, emphasising that they are not legally recognised. On no account should these counterfeit NIN cards be presented as valid means of identification. The security agencies have been notified and mandated to apprehend those involved, with offenders set to face legal consequences.
The commission reaffirmed that the only valid document for identification is the NIN slip, which must be verified before accessing services. To address public demand, NIMC has concluded plans to launch the Improved GMPC, a multifunctional card serving as both a physical identification document and a payment card, powered by the AfriGO local payment platform.
A statement from the commission’s head of corporate communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke advised the public to direct inquiries to NIMC via 07002255646, 0815505388, emails (nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng, ieu@nimc.gov.ng), or its social media platforms.
