NIGERIA TO LAUNCH NEW NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD WITH PAYMENT, SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY CAPABILITIES
The federal government of Nigeria has revealed intentions to introduce a new national identity solution with payment capabilities. According to Techeconomy, this national identity solution is intended to support various social and financial services through AfriGO, a domestic card scheme.
Confirming this development, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, the head of Corporate Communications at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stated in a Friday announcement that the initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
Adegoke highlighted that the new National ID card incorporates verifiable national identity features and operates under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of General Multipurpose Cards (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
He emphasized that the new National ID Card will meet the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to verify their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion, empower citizens, and promote participation in nation-building.
Only individuals registered with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible for the card, which adheres to ICAO standards. Apart from identification, cardholders can also use the cards for financial transactions by linking them to their bank accounts. This initiative aims to provide access to government interventions for financially excluded individuals.
Nigeria’s new ID card will feature various key elements, including machine-readable zones, identity card issue date, travel and health insurance information, and biometric authentication through fingerprint and pictures. Additionally, it will have offline capability for transactions in areas with limited network coverage.
Requests for cards will be accessible online, at commercial banks, participating agencies or agents, and NIMC offices nationwide, Adegoke added.
Source: Techeconomy
