The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has introduced a new card that offers a wide range of features, including payment functions for various social and financial services. This card aims to address the need for physical identification, enabling cardholders to prove their identity and access government and private social services.
The NIMC stated that this card, an initiative led by President Bola Tinubu, was developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, and will be powered by a national domestic card called AfriGO.
With this new card, Nigerians will have the opportunity to possess a versatile National ID card that can be used for identity verification, payments, and other government services. It will also be compatible with the eNaira, in line with the EMV operational and security standards, according to the NIMC.
To apply for the new NIMC card, interested individuals can follow these steps:
1. Visit the nearest bank or bank-approved center and request the payment card alongside their identity documents.
2. Provide their National Identification Number (NIN) for identity verification and proof of being at least 18 years old.
3. The bank will send the NIN to NIMC and receive the necessary authorized identity data in the required format.
4. Using the verified identity data, the bank will securely prepare the standard Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) data for the card, which will then be personalized and printed by a partnering bureau.
5. The bank will issue the finished card to the applicant once the process is complete.
However, it is crucial for cardholders to be cautious. The NIMC advises against sharing photocopies or scanned images of the card, as they contain sensitive payment details. While the user’s NIN is not visible on the card, it can be accessed by scanning the QR code.
The NIMC underlines that only citizens with a National Identification Number (NIN) are eligible to obtain these multi-purpose cards.
This innovative card is set to revolutionize the way Nigerians prove their identity and access various services, providing convenience and efficiency in one compact solution.
