The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is set to unveil an upgraded national identity card featuring payment functionality for a wide range of social and financial services.
This card, developed in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), will be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.
Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, announced this development in a statement on Friday.
The enhanced National ID card, fortified with verifiable National Identity features, is mandated by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which authorizes NIMC to enroll and issue a General Multipurpose card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
According to NIMC, the upgraded card will meet the demand for physical identification, allowing cardholders to verify their identity and access government and private social services. It will also promote financial inclusion for marginalized Nigerians, empower citizens, and foster increased participation in nation-building efforts.
Only registered citizens and legal residents of Nigeria with the National Identification Number (NIN) can request the card.
In addition to serving as the country’s default national identity card, the card will offer debit or prepaid card functionality by linking to the holder’s chosen bank account.
The card aims to grant eligible individuals, particularly those excluded from financial services, access to government intervention programs.
NIMC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting cardholders’ data in compliance with data protection regulations and international data security standards.
Key features of the card will include a Machine-readable Zone (MRZ) in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, the identity card issue date, and the document number.
Other features include travel and health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, energy subsidies, and more.
The card will also incorporate Nigeria’s Quick Response (NQR) code, which contains the national identification number and biometric authentication using fingerprints and pictures for identity verification.
Offline capability will enable transactions in areas with limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity.
Additionally, the card will function as a debit and prepaid card, catering to both banked and unbanked individuals.
