The Federal Government has launched a clamp down on individuals and organizations illegally printing National Identification Number cards.
The National Identity Management Commission has warned that offenders would face legal action, noting that cyber cafés and other entities have been producing fake NIN cards and charging unsuspecting Nigerians high fees.
NIMC emphasized that only authorized channels should handle NIN-related services to prevent identity fraud and ensure security.
The agency condemned the unauthorized printing of NIN cards as a violation of the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007. It also warned Nigerians against using or accepting such fake cards as valid identification.
The so-called NIN card is not authorized by NIMC, and on no account should anyone present it as a means of identification,” Adegoke said. “Security agencies have been notified and mandated to apprehend those engaged in this illegal activity.”
NIMC reaffirmed that the NIN slip is the only valid proof of identification and must be verified before use.
The warning follows the agency’s announcement that NIN enrollment has reached 117.3 million as of February 28, 2025.
NIMC said it has finalized plans to launch an upgraded General Multi-Purpose Card, designed to function as both an identity and payment card, powered by the local payment platform AfriGO.
NIMC initially announced the GMPC in April last year, but its rollout timeline has remained uncertain.
At a recent press conference, NIMC Director-General and CEO, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, provided updates on the program, stating that the new card is designed to support various federal government and private sector initiatives.
NIMC stated that the GMPC is designed to tackle social and economic challenges by combining identity verification with payment functionalities.
The commission also clarified that Nigerians who want the card will have to pay for it, citing limited government resources and the need to prevent past inefficiencies.
