Chaos or innovation?

You’re probably going to get a new NIN soon

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- Margaret 

Word count: ~ 1, 000 
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Let’s get into today’s edition:

• You’re probably going to get a new NIN soon

• Edo governor is returning Benin artefacts to where they belong

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The Big Deal

You’re probably going to get a new NIN soon

Put down a finger if you only have a National Identity Number (NIN) card because your favourite telecom companies threatened to block your SIM card if you didn’t link your NIN. We’re not judging if your finger is down because we can low-key relate to it. Anyway, the people at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a bright idea that might bring the NIN wave back. 

NIMC wants to make life “easier and smarter” for Nigerians by introducing new NIN cards that are expected to be ready for collection in the coming months.  Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, and Peter Iwegbu, Director of Card Management Services at NIMC said that the card will be a General Multipurpose Identity Card (GMPC), powered by AfriGO Financial Services. 

According to Iwegbu, the card isn’t just for flashing your ID when needed. It will also double as a payment card for ATM withdrawals, online shopping, and money transfers.

He explained that the card’s chip works perfectly with Nigeria’s banking system, so you can withdraw or send money without worrying about which bank you use. “It’s not just identification—it’s functionality,” he said.

To make this work, NIMC has teamed up with big players like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). They’re banking (pun intended) on this card to reach over 100 million Nigerians, so you’re probably going to be getting a new NIN card soon.

Why is this a big deal?

If you went through the messy collection process and long queues to get the NIN card you currently have, you’re probably already stressed by the thought of collecting another card. If this is you, Adegoke says to tell you to heave a sigh of relief because you won’t go through the same process this time. 

When the cards are finally ready (likely in the first few months of 2025), commercial banks will be put in charge of the distribution so this means you can apply either at your preferred bank or online. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even request home delivery.

It might not seem like a necessary move, but the card can actually solve major problems in Nigeria. It’s particularly great for Nigerians living in rural areas because it will improve financial security and give an identity to those without an international passport. It will also increase financial inclusion, which is still stuck at about 64%.

But there’s a catch – the card will likely come at a cost. The government plans to subsidise the cost for Nigerians who cannot afford to pay for it, but if your pocket isn’t light, you’ll need to pay.

We’re not yet sure if the government will make it compulsory for all Nigerian citizens to get this card, but Adegoke said that  NIMC’s intention to start the rollout with over 100 million cards shows that there’s a chance the commission has other tricks under its sleeve, like a sim ban, to drive Nigerians to apply for the multipurpose card.

Edo governor is returning Benin artefacts to where they belong

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has been making some bold moves since he was inaugurated on November 12. He’s just made another heavy one that might earn him some blessings from Edo ancestral forces.

On Sunday, November 24, the governor gave the Oba of Benin full ownership rights of returned looted artefacts.  Okpebholo has been vocal about his respect for the Oba of Benin’s status as the rightful custodian of the artefacts looted during the 1897 British invasion. Now, he’s putting action behind those words.

The Benin artefacts have been scattered around the world for decades, but they are finally coming back home. Here’s a brief history of the returned artefacts.

Apart from giving full ownership rights of the returned artefacts to the Oba of Benin, Okpebholo also scrapped the previous administration's initial plan to associate the returned artefacts with the Museum of West Africa Art (MOWA) and backed the original plan to build the Benin Royal Museum, where they will be kept.

“The Oba of Benin is the custodian of our culture, and this administration will back him all the way,”  Okpebholo said in a statement. In short, the governor is resetting policies that sidelined the Oba and making it clear that Edo’s cultural heritage belongs to its people with the Oba of Benin serving as their guardian.  

The governor’s latest moves, especially the backing of the Benin Royal Museum, will improve Nigeria’s tourism sector and contribute to the country’s revenue in the future. It’s also going to keep the artefacts and all the attention it attracts right where it belongs – with the people of Edo. 

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This Week’s Big Question 

 “If you could change one thing about living in Nigeria, and it had to happen immediately, what would it be?”

Ngozi’s response - “I just want to stable electricity. That shouldn’t be a wish but oh well.”

You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting as Ngozi’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.

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The Big Picks

Nigeria’s GDP Grew By 3.46% In Q3 2024, Says NBS: Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.46% in real terms in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

‘Reforms Beginning To Bear Fruits,’ Tinubu Welcomes Third-Quarter GDP Growth: President Bola Tinubu on Monday expressed delight over the third-quarter economic growth figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

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