The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), on behalf of the Federal Government, is set to introduce an upgraded National Identity card incorporating payment functionalities and social service provisions.
Crafted in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, this innovative card will leverage AfriGO, a domestic card scheme.
Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, revealed this development in a statement issued on Friday.
Backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the issuance of a multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents, the enhanced national ID card will feature robust identity verification mechanisms. The initiative aims to address the need for physical identification, facilitating cardholders’ access to government and private social services.
This initiative is poised to enhance financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage greater involvement in nation-building efforts. NIMC specifies that only individuals registered with the National Identification Number will be eligible to apply for the card.
The statement read, “The card, which will be produced according to ICAO standards, is positioned as the country’s default national identity card.
“In addition to this functionality, cardholders will also be able to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking the same to bank accounts of their choice.
“The card shall enable eligible persons, especially those financially excluded from social and financial services, to have access to multiple government intervention programmes.
“In line with data protection regulation and public interest, NIMC remains committed to protecting cardholders’ personal data and will ensure compliance with international standards on data security protocols as security features that protect the confidentiality and safety of users’ information.”
Additional attributes of the card encompass a machine-readable zone aligned with ICAO standards for e-passport data, issuance date of the identity card, and document number. It also integrates features such as travel and health insurance details, microloans, agricultural support, food assistance, transportation benefits, energy subsidies, and more.