Buhari approves NIN, debit card merger orders banks to issue NIN cards to Nigerians
Nigerians can now request from their commercial banks a debit card that doubles as their National Identity Card at no additional cost beyond the standard debit card fees.
This is because, on Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council approved a memo from the National Identity Management Commission allowing banks to print debit cards that also function as National identity cards.
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Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, told State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s valedictory meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Aso Rock Villa, “It will be a form of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on the one hand and also your bank card on the other hand, either MasterCard, Visa or any other type of card.”
Despite the fact that the NIMC Act of 2007 only requires Nigerians to have a National Identification Number and not necessarily a printout card, the demand for cards has increased, according to Pantami.
As stated in Section 27 of the NIMC Act of 2007, it is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents to obtain a National Identity Number, not a card. The card is, however, optional.
“Yet, despite the fact that the NIMC card is optional, a large number of citizens, particularly those residing in rural areas, regularly complain to NIMC offices that they need the card on hand.
“NIMC introduced a smart ID card that can be downloaded from the NIMC app a year ago in an effort to make the process more convenient. It is merely a chip card. You do not need to have it physically, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for our rural community residents.”
To alleviate the difficulty, Pantami stated, “NIMC has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria so that citizens desiring a card can easily visit the relevant banks.”
“The bank may print the card with a MasterCard or Visa logo.” It will be a form of multipurpose card that, on the one hand, serves as your national identification card and, on the other, as your bank card. According to the agreement, there are no additional costs for our citizens.
“Therefore, when you apply for a card at your bank, you can specify, ‘I want this card to serve as both my bank card and my national identification card. Both will be printed on the same card, which will serve the same functions without incurring any additional expenses. Also approved by the Federal Executive Council is this memorandum,” the minister stated.
The minister disclosed that the NIMC and CBN have signed a non-disclosure agreement to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of card applicants.
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