Nigerians will begin utilizing a new three-in-one identity card starting in August, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has confirmed.
The single, multipurpose card will combine the functions of identity, financial, and social services, and will be made available to citizens across the country by the end of the summer, according to a high-ranking member of the implementation team.
The unnamed official, speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, said the commission has been working tirelessly to meet its goals, and the plan remains on track for a launch in the upcoming months.
"We actually plan for July although there have been a few delays but we are still hopeful that it would come in July. So we are hoping to get it done between July and August. We are still on plan and if there is any shift, the public will know," the official stated.
The official explained that the deployment is currently in the testing and configuration stage, as the commission works to ensure the card, outlets, and payment wallet are all functioning properly. Integrations with banks are also ongoing to enable the card's financial capabilities.
"When you are deploying a new technology, there is a lot of work to be done, you need to configure the card, enable the outlet, and enable the wallet to work. We also have to do tests and that is what is ongoing," the official said.
The new identity card was first announced by NIMC on April 5, 2024, as a collaborative effort with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. It will include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, all in a single solution.
The initiative aims to offer increased options for domestic consumers while improving the delivery of services in a more innovative, cost-effective, and competitive manner, according to the initial statement.