IDENTITY | Nigeria’s NIMC to Introduce New Identity Card Integrated with Payments and Other Functions

The National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria (NIMC) says that a new digital ID card with multiple functions will be introduced in the coming days.

Responding to public concerns that several cards would be introduced, the NIMC has re-assured Nigerians saying:

“The new National ID Card is a single, convenient, and General multipurpose card (GMPC) eliminating the need for multiple cards – not three.” – NIMC

In a statement issued in early April 2024, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), said the new ID card, whose launch is supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), will have several capabilities including:

• Payments and social service delivery functions
• Facilitate access to other services including travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, just to mention a few

The agency further stated that, in addition to the mentioned functions, the card, operated under a national ID card initiative named AfriGo, will include a machine-readable zone (MRZ) adhering to ICAO’s biometric passport standards.

It will also feature a QR code containing the holder’s national identification number (NIN) with provisions for facial and fingerprint biometric authentication as the primary means of identity verification through the data stored on the card chip.

“The card will be powered by the AFRIGO card scheme, an indigenous scheme powered by NIBSS. Applicants for the cards will have to request with their NIN through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices or their respective banks,” the NIMC notes.

NIBSS is the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System with which the government has partnered over the years to issue Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as a layer of security for bank account holders.

After the application process for the new multi-purpose card, it will be issued through the applicants’ respective banks in line with existing protocols with the issuance of debit/credit cards, NIMSS said, adding that it “can be picked up by holders at the designated center or delivered to the applicants at the requested location at an extra cost to be borne by the applicants.”

Elsewhere on the continent, Kenya is introducing a similar program, with a pilot for the Maisha Card said to be ongoing.

About NIMC

Established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the NIMC has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria.

NIMC operates and regulates matters of national identity in Nigeria with services covering National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment and issuance, National e-ID card issuance, identity verification as well as data harmonization and authentication.