%20(1).jpg)
*Vows To Ensure Financial Inclusion, Service Reform
Determined to have best global tech, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has decided to roll out a new and improved general-purpose digital identity card by October 2025.
The new card will mark a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
The Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote represented by the Director of the Special Project Office in NIMC, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, spoke on the sideline of a two-day media roundtable with online publishers and journalists, organized by NIMC to foster trust and collaboration in digital identity discourse.
She said that the Commission is introducing a revamped General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC), which will serve as a token of identity and a tool for accessing various government and private sector services.
The Director General said “The core digital identity, the National Identification Number (NIN), has always been active,
“However, the general multi-purpose card suffered setbacks due to sustainability issues. With this October rollout, we are not just relaunching it, we are transforming it into a powerful enabler for inclusion, finance, and access.” she stated
Card Features and Use Cases
Even though the Commission withheld full details on the card’s features until its official unveiling, the NIMC Boss, spoke about some critical capabilities.
These, according to her, included embedded wallets for government subsidies, support for farmers and credit schemes, and direct benefit transfers to verified individuals.
She said “It’s not just about identification. This card can help a farmer receive input support, a student get scholarship credits, or a citizen receive social protection funds.
"The card will be available at banks and through key government partner agencies, such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. While not mandatory, it complements the mandatory NIN and will be necessary for certain services in banking, telecoms, and government transactions.
"Non-Nigerians, particularly legal residents, are also eligible to receive a version of the card, though it does not confer citizenship."
Cost and Accessibility
Acknowledging public concerns, the Director General, confirmed that the card will come at a cost but one that is affordable and inclusive.
“Yes, there are infrastructural and maintenance costs, but this is not about revenue generation. It’s about service delivery and national development.
"The requirements for obtaining the card are minimal: possession of a valid NIN and completion of a straightforward verification process."
At the day two of the roundtable, NIMC's Head of Software and Biometrics, Mr. Olushola Amusrawatye, presented a technical overview of the Commission’s ongoing infrastructural overhaul, aimed at boosting performance, security, and reliability.
Key highlights of the overhaul include:
Distributed high-availability systems for faster ID issuance and verification
Strengthened cybersecurity frameworks including firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication
Expanded self-service platforms for rural, diaspora, and mobile users
Integration with national economic initiatives and ease of doing business strategies
Enhanced data integrity through robust validation and anti-fraud tools
"This upgrade is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, aiming to position Nigeria’s identity system as a strategic lever for digital transformation."
Another presentation, by Mrs. Florence Oloruntade, Director of SERVICOM at NIMC, underscored the Commission’s commitment to grievance redress and quality service delivery.
Stressing that SERVICOM plays a critical oversight role within NIMC, she said it is ensuring:
Prompt complaint resolution through hotlines, email, and physical channels
Regular audits and performance tracking to uphold service charters
Training of frontline agents to ensure ethical conduct and professionalism
Use of data-driven insights to detect and correct systemic service failures
Adding that grievance redress isn’t just about complaint handling, she said it’s a vital feedback loop that shows Nigerians that NIMC listens, learns, and improves.
According to her, SERVICOM is also helping implement technologies such as NINAuth (OTP-based verification) and Digital Tokens, which simplify identity verification and protect user privacy.