The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, is set to introduce an upgraded National Identity card integrated with payment functionalities and social service attributes.
Developed jointly with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, this new card will utilize AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.
Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, disclosed this in a statement released on Friday.
Supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of a multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents, the national ID card will feature robust National Identity components for verification purposes.
This initiative aims to address the need for physical identification, allowing cardholders to authenticate their identity and access both governmental and private social services.
Moreover, the national ID card is poised to advance financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage greater involvement in nation-building endeavors.
According to NIMC, only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number will be eligible to request the 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.”
Other features of the card include a machine-readable zone in conformation with ICAO for e-passport information, identity card Issue date and document number in line with ICAO standards, travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, etc.