The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians who have registered for the National Identification Number (NIN) will soon be able to request a national ID card with payment functionality.
This initiative is a collaboration between NIMC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), with the card being powered by NIBSS’ Afrigo, a national domestic card scheme.
According to NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, the national ID card will have verifiable national identity features and is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
This act mandates NIMC to enroll and issue a General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
The card aims to address the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to prove their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion, empower citizens, and encourage increased participation in nation-building.
Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card.
The card, produced according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, will serve as the country’s default national identity card.
In addition to its identification features, cardholders will have the option to link the card to their bank accounts, allowing it to function as a debit or prepaid card.
NIMC emphasizes its commitment to protecting cardholders’ personal data and ensuring compliance with international standards on data security protocols.
The commission will make the card request process available online, at commercial banks, participating agencies or agents, and NIMC offices nationwide.
Key features of the card include a machine-readable zone (MRZ) in line with ICAO standards, travel and health insurance information, microloans, agriculture and food stamps, transport and energy subsidies, and Nigeria’s Quick Response Code (NQR) containing the National Identification Number.
The card also incorporates biometric authentication through fingerprint and pictures for identity verification, offline capability for transactions in areas with limited network coverage, and functionality as a debit and prepaid card for both banked and unbanked individuals.
Article updated 6 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
