Chigozie Marquis
The Federal Government will soon launch a new national identity card with payment and other social service features to systematically enhanced the effectiveness of the national economy
The new national identity card project is in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, NIBSS.
According to the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, the new national ID card is an innovative identity solution with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services.
The project would be powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme.
The Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Dr Kayode Adegoke, made these revelations in a statement in Abuja.
The statement read: ”The National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates NIMC to enroll and issue a General Multipurpose card, GMPC, to Nigerians and legal residents.
“This card will address the demand for physical identification enabling cardholders prove their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, empower citizens, as well as encourage increased participation in nation-building”.
“Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number, NIN, will be eligible to request the card.
“The card, which will be produced according to ICAO standards, is positioned as the country’s default economic renaissance mechanism”.