The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised the alarm over the unauthorized printing of National Identification Number (NIN) cards by individuals, cyber cafés, and organizations.
The Commission described the practice as illegal, warning those involved to desist or face legal consequences.
In a statement signed by Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications and released on Monday, NIMC cautioned the public against patronizing fraudsters who charge exorbitant fees to print unauthorized NIN cards, stating that only the NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC) is officially recognized.
“The Commission has not authorized anyone or any organization to print any card in place of the NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card. This act is against the NIMC Act No 23, 2007,” the statement read.
To curb the illegal practice, NIMC has directed security agencies to clamp down on those engaging in unauthorized NIN card production. “Anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the Commission warned.
NIMC emphasized that the NIN slip remains the only legal document recognized as a means of identification and must be verified whenever presented for official transactions.
In response to public demand for a more convenient identification method, the Commission announced the upcoming launch of the Improved GMPC, a multifunctional card designed to serve as both an identification and payment system. “The card is powered by AfriGO, a local payment platform,” the statement noted.
