New National ID card with payment, social features to be introduced - FG

The Federal Government has concluded plans to unveil an enhanced National Identity card through the National Identity Management Commission.

The Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the new card to be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme, will be developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. The card according to Adegoke will be layered with payment capabilities and social service features.

“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,” the statement read.

The commission said the initiative aims to meet the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to verify their identity and access both government and private social services, adding that only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number will be eligible to request the card, according to NIMC.

The national ID card, fortified with verifiable National Identity features, is supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of a general multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents.

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, Punchng reported.