FG Reveals Plans for New National Identity Card with Payment, Other Unique Features

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its intention to launch a new national identity card that will come with payment and social service delivery capabilities. This initiative is a collaboration between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), and will be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.

The new National ID card will be equipped with verifiable national identity features and is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of a General Multipurpose card (GMPC) to all Nigerians and legal residents. The card aims to address the need for physical identification, providing cardholders with the ability to prove their identity, access government and private social services, promote financial inclusion for marginalized Nigerians, empower citizens, and encourage greater participation in nation-building. Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card.

Produced in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, the card will serve as the country’s default national identity card. Additionally, cardholders will have the option to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking them to their preferred bank accounts.

This new card will enable eligible individuals, particularly those who have been excluded from social and financial services, to gain access to various government intervention programs.

In order to safeguard cardholders’ personal data and ensure compliance with international data security protocols, the NIMC is committed to upholding data protection regulations and public interest. The card will feature key security measures to protect the confidentiality and safety of users’ information.

Key features of the new National ID card include a machine-readable zone (MRZ) in line with ICAO standards for e-passport information, an identity card issue date and document number, as well as additional capabilities such as travel and health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, energy subsidies, and more. The card will also include Nigeria’s quick response code (NQR) containing the national identification number, and biometric authentication through fingerprint and pictures as the primary means of identity verification.

Furthermore, the card will have offline functionality, enabling transactions to take place even in areas with limited network coverage or no infrastructure connectivity. It will serve as both a debit and prepaid card, catering to both banked and unbanked individuals.

Registered citizens and legal residents will be able to request the new National ID card online, at commercial banks, various participating agencies or agents involved in multiple programs, or at any NIMC office nationwide.