The National Identity Management Commission that has it that ‘The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is set to issue Nigerians a new National Identity Card.’
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Identity Management Commission in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), have announced the launching of a new identity solution with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services which is supported by AfriGO.
Recall that In January 2023, the CBN launched AfriGo to drive financial inclusion using the card and boost data sovereignty.
AfriGO was birthed in Nigeria with continental aspirations, as ‘AFRI’ means culture, ethnic diversity, bravery, innovation, and growth, while “GO” symbolises progress, empowerment, inclusivity, and future-forward, among others.
This new national ID card is said to possess verifiable National Identity features which is supported by the National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007 mandates the National Identity Management Commission to enroll and issue a General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
This card possesses several innovative features, including biometric authentication through fingerprints and photographs.
These enhancements of the National Identity Number card are designed to enhance security and efficiency in identity verification processes.
And by that I mean that, It could help to deter crime as it can be used to track down suspects and link them to crimes.
It can also be used to improve law enforcement investigations
It can also help border security as it can be used to verify the identity of people entering and leaving a country. This can help to prevent illegal immigration and terrorism.
National ID cards can be used to control access to government buildings, sensitive areas, or events.
This new initiative is aimed at meeting the demand for physical identification which enables cardholders to verify their identity and access both government and private social services.
The introduction of this new identity card would give citizens access to government and private social services, promote financial inclusion for marginalized Nigerians, empower citizens, and foster greater engagement in nation-building efforts.
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.
However, reports by National Identity Management indicate that only registered citizens and legal residents possessing the National Identification Number (NIN) will qualify to obtain the card.
This proposed card include a machine-readable zone for e-passport information, identity card Issue date and document number, travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, etc
Whilst this initiative is commendable, it potentially leaves out a significant portion of the population, as data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) reveals that as of December 2023, only 104.16MillionNigerians had obtained the NIN, representing less than half of the nation’s total population.
As the new card is targeted at becoming the primary national identity card for the country, the ease of requesting and collecting it would greatly influence people’s willingness to participate.
In the past, there were many challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, staffing shortages, and technical difficulties that hindered many Nigerians from enrolling for the NIN.
There was also the issue of multiple identity cards as many citizens possess various identification documents such as BVN, PVC, NIN, International Passport, and Driver’s License.
It is best that the procedure of collection is seamless.
