The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, has issued a strong warning about the illegal printing of National Identification Number cards by individuals, cyber cafés, and various organizations across Nigeria.
The commission emphasized that only the official NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card is legally recognized for identification purposes.
In a statement on Monday NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke described the unauthorized printing of NIN cards as a breach of the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, noting that it is an unlawful act that can result in severe penalties.
NIMC further warned the public against using these counterfeit NIN cards and stressed that the official NIN slip is the only valid form of identification for accessing services.
“The Commission has not given any individual or organization the authority to print NIN cards as replacements for the official NIMC General Multi-Purpose Card. This illegal practice is punishable under the law,” the statement read.
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To combat this growing issue, NIMC has informed that security agencies have been instructed to take action against those involved in the unauthorized printing, selling, or distribution of fake NIN cards.
The commission also clarified that any counterfeit NIN cards should not be presented for identification under any circumstances.
In an effort to meet public demand for physical identification, NIMC disclosed plans to launch an upgraded General Multi-Purpose Card, which will serve both as an identification and payment card, backed by the local payment platform AfriGO.
NIMC urged Nigerians to report any instances of illegal NIN card printing and to reach out for further information through its official communication channels, including its customer care numbers, emails, and social media platforms.
The commission reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the national identity system and ensuring that only legally approved identification documents are used throughout the country.
Crediblenewsng.com
