Abuja, Nigeria — The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) don release alert say dem don mandate security agencies to arrest and prosecute any Nigerian wey dey print unauthorised National Identity Number (NIN) cards. Dis warning come as di commission plan to launch di General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC) wey go serve as official ID for citizens.
Kayode Adegoke, di Head of Corporate Communications Unit for NIMC, talk say dem don dey observe some illegal activities from individuals, cyber cafes, and organizations wey dey print fake NIN cards. Dis illegal printing dey cause unsuspecting citizens to pay high fees for dem NIN cards wahala, wey no get any legal standing.
Adegoke stress say di only valid form of identification na di NIN slip, and e advise Nigerians make dem stop to dey print any NIN cards wey no follow di authorized GMPC wey dem don set.
“Di so-called NIN card no get NIMC approval, and no be by force say anybody go present am as ID,” he add. NIMC also confirm say security agencies don dey informed about di illegal activities and dem go ensure say those wey dey engage in dis act go face di law sharply.
NIMC dey plan to launch di improved GMPC, a card wey go combine identification and payment function. Dis card go powered by AfriGO platform, wey na local payment system to help Nigerians handle transactions without wahala, even for areas wey no get internet access.
Di commission explain say di GMPC go get long validity period, plus e go enable know your customer (KYC) procedures for financial transaction safety. Adegoke highlight say plans don dey in place to make di card available to all Nigerians, including those wey dey less privileged and no fit pay for di card.
“We dey work with banks across di country so that anybody wey need di card fit waka go any bank wey dey close to dem. We go try our best to ensure say di card reach everybody,” Adegoke conclude.
