The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, is set to introduce an enhanced National Identity card embedded with payment capabilities and social service features.
According to Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC on Friday, the new card will be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.
This initiative, supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, aims to issue a multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents, incorporating robust identity verification features.
The enhanced national ID card is designed to address the need for physical identification, allowing cardholders to verify their identity and access government and private social services.
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It also seeks to promote financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage participation in nation-building activities.
Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request this new card.
The card will be produced according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and will serve as the default national identity card for Nigeria.
In addition to identification functionality, cardholders can link the card to their bank accounts for use as a debit or prepaid card.
Moreover, the card will facilitate access to various government intervention programs for financially excluded individuals, in sectors such as microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies.
NIMC assures that stringent data protection measures will be implemented to safeguard cardholders’ personal information and ensure compliance with international data security standards.
Key features of the card include a machine-readable zone conforming to ICAO standards for e-passport information, identity card issue date, and document number.
This advanced identity card will integrate critical information beneficial for travel, health insurance, and various government services.
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