The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to roll out a new General Multipurpose Identity Card by October 2025. This was disclosed by Dr. Alvan Ikoku, Director and Head of the Strategic and Program Office at NIMC, during the second day of a Two-Day Roundtable with Online Publishers in Abuja.
Dr. Ikoku reaffirmed that the National Identification Number (NIN) remained the core digital identity token in Nigeria and has never been suspended. He explained that while other identity tokens exist, such as the earlier version of the General Multipurpose Card, its implementation was halted due to sustainability concerns. He noted that the Commission is now set to relaunch a more robust, functional version of the card by October 2025.
He highlighted the commitment of the Commission under the leadership of the Director-General, Engr. Dr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, to thoroughness and excellence in executing identity solutions for Nigerians.
According to Dr. Ikoku, the new card will not only serve for identification but also support business processes and social interventions. He said the card is expected to aid farmers, small businesses, and recipients of government credit schemes through embedded wallet features and payment capabilities.
Addressing the mode of issuance, he said the card would be available through commercial banks and relevant government agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which is already in partnership with NIMC. He added that the Commission is limiting its direct involvement in card issuance to remain focused on its core responsibility identity authentication and data integrity.
Responding to questions about cost implications, Dr. Ikoku pointed out that maintaining NIMC’s infrastructure involved significant expenses. While acknowledging the Commission’s status as a government agency, he emphasized the need for sustainable models of service delivery.
Earlier in the session, technical insights were presented by key officials of the Commission. Mr. Shola Amurawaye from the IT/IDD Department delivered a presentation titled “Infrastructural Overhaul at NIMC: Implications to Access to ID Data, Integrity, Privacy, and Security,” where he discussed ongoing upgrades and their impact on the efficiency and security of digital identity systems.
Also, Mrs. Florence Oloruntade, Head and Director of SERVICOM at NIMC, presented a paper on “NIMC: Grievance Uptake in NIN Enrolment and Ensuring Efficient Service Delivery,” in which she elaborated on the Commission’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and efforts to improve user experience and responsiveness.
The event ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Ayodele Babalola, Technical Assistant to the NIMC Director-General on Media and Communications. He appreciated participants for their active contributions and reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to deeper collaboration with stakeholders in strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity landscape.
