The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised an alarm over the unauthorized printing of National Identification Number (NIN) cards by individuals, cyber cafés, and organizations across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, described the illegal activity as a violation of the NIMC Act No. 23, 2007, warning that security agencies have been directed to clamp down on offenders.
“The Commission has not authorized any individual or organization to print any NIN card as a replacement for the official NIMC General Multipurpose Card. This act is illegal and punishable under the law,” the statement read.
NIMC stressed that only the official NIN slip is legally recognized for identification and advised Nigerians to stop using unauthorized NIN cards, emphasizing that such documents will not be accepted for accessing services.
To curb the fraudulent activity, the commission announced that law enforcement agencies have been notified and mandated to apprehend individuals involved in the illegal business.
“Anyone caught printing, selling, or issuing fake NIN cards will face the full wrath of the law,” Adegoke warned.
As part of efforts to meet public demand for a physical means of identification, NIMC revealed plans to launch an improved General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC), which will serve both as an identification document and a payment card powered by AfriGO, a local payment platform.
The commission urged Nigerians to report any cases of illegal NIN card printing through its official communication channels and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the integrity of national identification documents.
