The National Identity Management Commission, on behalf of the Federal Government, will introduce an upgraded National Identity card equipped with payment functionalities and social service enhancements.
Developed in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, this new card will run on AfriGO, the national domestic card scheme.
Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, disclosed this development in a statement released on Friday. Anchored by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the issuance of a multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents, the national ID card will boast fortified identity features.
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The primary objective of this initiative is to cater to the growing need for physical identification, allowing cardholders to authenticate their identity and access various government and private social services. Additionally, the card is expected to drive financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage greater participation in nation-building endeavors.
As per NIMC’s directives, only individuals registered with the National Identification Number will qualify for the new card. It will adhere to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and will serve as the nation’s primary identity card. Moreover, cardholders can link their cards to bank accounts for debit or prepaid card functionalities.
The card is envisioned to grant eligible individuals, particularly those marginalized from financial and social services, access to numerous government intervention programs. NIMC pledges to safeguard cardholders’ personal data in accordance with data protection regulations and international standards on data security protocols.
Notable features of the card include a machine-readable zone compliant with ICAO standards for e-passport information, as well as identity card issue date and document number in line with ICAO specifications. It will also incorporate provisions for travel, health insurance information, microloans, agricultural support, food subsidies, transportation, energy subsidies, and more.
