The federal government has unveiled plans to launch a
multipurpose national identity card.
The identity solution is equipped with payment capability
for all types of social and financial services.
According to a statement on Friday, the initiative is a
collaboration between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System
(NIBSS).
NIMC said the project, powered by AfriGO, a national
domestic card scheme, would drive growth and facilitate financial inclusion.
The commission also said only registered citizens and legal
residents with the national identification number (NIN) will be eligible to
request the card.
“The national ID card, layered with verifiable national
Identity features, is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates
NIMC to enrol and issue a general multipurpose card (GMPC) to Nigerians and
legal residents,” the statement reads.
“This card will address the demand for physical
identification enabling cardholders to prove their identity, access government
and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised
Nigerians, empower citizens, as well as encourage increased participation in
nation-building.
“The card, which will
be produced according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (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 programs.”
The NIMC said it remains committed to protecting
cardholders’ data and will ensure compliance with international standards on
data security protocols as security features that protect the confidentiality
and safety of users’ information.
Highlighting key features, the commission said the
machine-readable zone (MRZ) conforms with ICAO standards for e-passport
information.
“Identity card issue date and document number in line with
ICAO standard. Additional features include travel, health insurance
information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy
subsidies, etc,” NIMC said.
“Nigeria’s quick response code (NQR) containing the national
identification number. Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and
pictures, as the primary medium for identity verification through the data on
the card chip.
“Offline capability that allows transactions in areas with
limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity, and functionality
as a debit and prepaid card catering to both banked and unbanked individuals.”
The NIMC said the cards would be made available on request
online for registered citizens and legal residents.
The commission said Nigerians can request for the card at
any commercial bank, various agencies or agents participating in multiple programmes
and/or any NIMC offices nationwide.
The identity body asked Nigerians to visit www.nimc.gov.ng
for further information.
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