The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned against unauthorised and indiscriminate printing of NIN cards by some unscrupulous individuals, cyber cafes and organisations who go ahead to charge unsuspecting members of the public exorbitant fees for these fake cards.
A statement by Kayode Adegoke (Ph.D), Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC, said that this disturbing development has come to the notice of the Commission, and stated categorically that the Commission “has not authorised anyone or organisation to print any card in place of the NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card.”
The Commission urged those engaged in the illegal practice to stop immediately, stressing that these illegal cards must not be presented by anyone as means of identification, warning that the “security agencies have been notified of this nefarious activity and have been mandated to apprehend those involved.”
While noting that “anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement reiterated that “the NIN slip is the only legal document authorised as a means of identification, and it must be verified upon presentation to access services.”
It also assured that plans have been finalised to launch the Improved General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC) as a physical means of identification and payment, to meet the yearnings of the public.
Full text of the statement reads:
The National Identity Management Commission has noticed some unscrupulous individuals, cyber cafes, and organisations’ indiscriminate printing of unauthorised ‘NIN’ cards and charging unsuspecting members of the public exorbitant fees.
The Commission has not authorised anyone or organisation to print any card in place of the NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card. This act is against the NIMC Act no 23, 2007.
To this end, the general public and organisations are advised to stop printing any NIN cards against the authorised NIMC GMPC. The so-called NIN card is not authorised by NIMC, and on no account should anyone present it as a means of identification. The security agencies have been notified of this nefarious activity and have been mandated to apprehend those involved. Anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Commission reiterates that the NIN slip is the only legal document authorised as a means of identification, and it must be verified upon presentation to access services.
To meet the yearnings of the public, the Commission has finalised plans to launch the Improved GMPC, which is multifunctional and serves as a physical means of identification and payment. The card is powered by AfriGO, a local payment platform.
For any inquiry on the above and other issues, NIMC can be reached at 07002255646, 0815505388; emails – nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng, ieu@nimc.gov.ng, and on all social media platforms.
Kayode Adegoke (Ph.D)
Head, Corporate Communications,
NIMC.
