THE CABLE
The federal executive council (FEC) has approved a new policy that allows commercial banks to issue customers with debit cards that double as national identity cards at no extra cost.
The council gave the approval on Wednesday at a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Isa Pantami, minister of communication and digital economy, said the directive was from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), allowing banks to print debit cards that double as national identity cards.
“It is going to be a form of the multipurpose card where it will serve as your national identity card on one hand, and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa or any other kind of card,” the minister said.
Pantami said although the NIMC Act of 2007, only mandates Nigerians to have a NIN and not necessarily a printout card, demands for cards have swelled nonetheless.
“As in the NIMC Act of 2007, section 27, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the national identity number, not the card. However, the card is optional,” Pantami added.
“But many citizens, particularly those living in rural communities, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card at hand, even though it’s optional.
