The Federal Government of Nigeria has plan to launch a new national identity card with payment and social service capabilities.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) announce this in a statement on its X handle on Saturday, April 6, signed by its head of corporate communication, Kayode Adegoke.
The card, to be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme, is launched by the Federal government through NIMC in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
Adegoke said the national ID card, layered with verifiable national identity features, is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, noting that the Act mandates NIMC to enrol and issue a general multipurpose card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
It will also contain biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and pictures, as the primary medium for identity verification through the data on the card chip and offline capability that allows transactions in areas with limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity, he said.
In addition to this functionality cardholders will also be able to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking the same to bank accounts of their choice.
The commission said Nigerians can request for the card at any commercial bank, various agencies or agents participating in multiple programmes and/or any NIMC offices nationwide.
