NIMC: FG plans new national ID card with payment, social features

An improved national identity card featuring social service and financial functions will be unveiled by the federal government via the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

This new card will be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme that was created in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.

The NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 authorizes the issuing of a generic multipurpose card to all Nigerians and legal residents, strengthening the national ID card with verifiable aspects of national identity.

According to the commission, the program intends to satisfy the need for physical identification by allowing cardholders to authenticate themselves and make use of both public and private social services.

The national ID card will encourage more engagement in nation-building initiatives, empower citizens, and advance financial inclusion.

Only citizens and legal residents having a National Identity Number who are registered would be able to request the card, according to NIMC.

The statement read, “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 them 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 programs.

“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.”

Other features of the card include a machine-readable zone in conformance with ICAO for e-passport information, an identity card issue date and document number in line with ICAO standards, travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, energy subsidies, etc.