Nigerian citizens can now obtain a debit card from their commercial banks that will serve as both their National Identity Card and their bank card, without incurring any additional fees.

The Federal Executive Council has approved a memorandum from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) allowing banks to print debit cards that double as national identity cards.

According to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, the aim is to provide a multipurpose card that combines national identity and banking services, such as MasterCard or Visa functionality.

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While the NIMC Act 2007 mandates the acquisition of a National Identity Number (NIN) and not the physical card, there has been a growing demand for the card, particularly from citizens in rural areas.

To address this, NIMC has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, enabling interested citizens to obtain the card at their banks.

The joint initiative ensures that both the national identity and banking functions are included on the same card, with no additional cost to citizens.

Pantami also mentioned the approval of an automated system to integrate NINs with individual SIM cards, simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage process and facilitating SIM replacements.