The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is set to introduce an upgraded National Identity card that incorporates payment capabilities and social service features.
Developed in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, this enhanced card will be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.
Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, disclosed this in a statement released on Friday.
The new national ID card, built with verifiable National Identity elements, is supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, mandating Nigerians and legal residents to enroll and receive a multipurpose card.
The initiative aims to address the need for physical identification, enabling cardholders to verify their identity and access both government and private social services.
Moreover, it is expected to promote financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage their participation in nation-building endeavors.
To obtain the card, individuals must be registered citizens or legal residents possessing the National Identification Number.
In addition to serving as a national identity card, the new ID card will function as a debit or prepaid card, linked to users’ preferred bank accounts.
This multifunctional approach aims to provide eligible individuals, particularly those excluded from financial services, access to various government intervention programs.
NIMC emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding cardholders’ personal data and ensuring compliance with international data security standards.
The card will feature an ICAO-compliant machine-readable zone for e-passport information and include essential details such as identification card issue date and document number.
It will also facilitate access to services like travel, health insurance, microloans, agricultural support, food stamps, transportation, and energy subsidies, among others.
