This year May, the Federal Government of Nigeria intends to launch three new national identity cards with a target of issuing them to about 104 million individuals nationwide. The three new identity cards introduced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) include; a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.
The Identity Commission announced plans to introduce a national identity card with many uses on Friday. It clarified that the identity solution included the capacity to make payments for all kinds of financial and social services.
In line with a statement released by NIMC on Friday, the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and NIMC collaborated on this project. It seeks to provide additional options for domestic customers while encouraging more creative, economical, and competitive service delivery.
Nigerians would begin receiving the three national ID cards within one or two months of the introduction, according to Ayodele Babalola, the Technical Adviser, Media, and Communications to Director-General of NIMC. Babalola made this announcement in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
However, he stated that the President’s approval was still pending for the May launch date.
Babalola stated, “We expect the bank-enabled National ID to meet the needs of the middle and upper segments who typically use banks within the next one or two months after launch. Also, activation of the National Safety Net Card to meet the urgent needs for authentication and a secure platform for government services such as palliatives within the next one or two months. The focus will be on the 25 million vulnerable Nigerians funded by the current government intervention programmes.”
“Digital/virtual versions of all cards will be available for individuals who prefer digital formats, albeit with limited functionalities. Additionally, ECOWAS cards will be issued on an as-needed basis in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service,” he added.
During the interview, Babalola clarified that the new card would do away with the requirement for physical identification by enabling cardholders to authenticate themselves, obtain access to public and private social services, help marginalized Nigerians become financially included, empower the populace, and foster increased involvement in national development projects.
By the end of December 2023, he stated, the commission aimed to have distributed the cards to 104 million qualified applicants on the national identification number database.
He said, “We shall be implementing the following programmes to revive the general multipurpose card issuance; first is the bank-enabled national ID card in collaboration with NIBSS and banks, while the second programme will be a social intervention card under the National Safety Net Card. The third rollout will be an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.
“We are looking at May for the possible launch but that is also subject to presidential approval. It is just to finalize some very important details. The project will be powered by AfriGo, which is under the central bank but everything stops at the table of the President.”
Babalola further noted, “On our part, we have done the needful but we also have to wait for necessary permission. It is going to be three different cards, one would be for the smooth process of palliative distribution and social safety programmes. There will be another one that is bank-enabled and people will have the choice to choose based on their needs. Persons without bank accounts will also be able to use it and persons living with disability.
“The National E-ID card can function as a debit and prepaid card for both banked and unbanked individuals using biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and picture, to aid identity verification. It has offline capability that will allow transactions to be carried out in areas with limited network coverage. Banking details at the back of the card with chip and pin as well as magnetic stripe enabled.
“The National Safety Net Card will be enabled for identity and used for all government interventions and services across multiple ministries, departments, and agencies. Among other capabilities and functionalities, this card will be enabled for the eNaira in compliance with the operational and security standards and interoperable with the existing payment system.
“The card will be used for all government social programmes including cash transfers, agricultural loans, student loans, health insurance schemes, micro contributions, micro pensions, etc, with a validity period of 10 years and will be issued based on the government programmes and existing social register. This will enable real access through electronic money and not cash and uplift 133 million people out of poverty.”
Additionally, the CBN-launched initiative, AfriGo which was established to drive financial inclusion using the card and boost data sovereignty announced its collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure the successful rollout and registration of digital national IDs for all Nigerians.
Within the next one to two months following its release, Babalola stated that the commission would promptly activate the bank-enabled National ID to satisfy the demands of the middle and upper segments.
