NIGERIA PLANS NEW NATIONAL ID WITH PAYMENT, SOCIAL CAPABILITIES, CRITICS CONDEMN TIMING

 

Features: Nigeria’s Quick Response code (NQR) containing the National Identification Number (NIN) and biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and pictures.

The Federal Government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is set for an upgraded national identity card with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services.

The innovative card made in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), is to be powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme.

The national ID card, fortified with verifiable National Identity features, is supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of a general multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents.

The Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The commission said the initiative aims to meet the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to verify their identity and access both government and private social services.

The national ID card will promote financial inclusion, empower citizens, and foster increased participation in nation-building endeavours.

According to NIMC, the innovation will address the demand for physical identification enabling cardholders prove their identity, access government and private social services.

It will also facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, empower citizens, as well as encourage increased participation in nation- building.

NIMC noted that 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 national identity card. In addition to this functionality, cardholders will also be able to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking same to bank accounts of their choice.

“The card shall enable eligible persons especially those financially excluded from social and financial services have access to multiple government interventions programs.

“In line with data protection regulation and public interest, NIMC remains committed to protecting cardholders’ personal data and will ensure compliance with international standards on data security protocols as security features that protect the confidentiality and safety of users’ information,” the statement read in part.

Key features of the card will include Machine-readable Zone (MRZ) in conformation with ICAO for e-passport information, Identity card Issue Date and document number in line with ICAO standard.

Additional features include travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, among others.

The card will also feature Nigeria’s quick response code (NQR) containing the national identification number, biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and pictures, as the primary medium for identity verification through the data on the card chip Offline capability that allows transactions in areas with limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity.

Functionality as a debit and prepaid card catering to both banked and unbanked individuals will be part of the features of the card.

NIMC said request for cards by registered citizens and legal residents will be made available online, at any commercial bank, various agencies or agents participating in multiple programs and/or any of its offices nationwide.

 FEATURES AT A GLANCE:

1.   Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card.

2.   Request for cards by registered citizens and legal residents will be made available online, at any commercial bank, various agencies or agents participating in multiple programs and/or any NIMC offices nationwide.

3.   It's powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme.

4.   It has a machine-readable Zone (MRZ) in conformation with ICAO for -passport information.

5.   It's identity card Issue Date and document number in line with ICAO standard.

6.   It has Nigeria's quick response code (NQR) containing the national identification number.

7.   It has offline capability that allows transactions in areas with limited network coverage or zero infrastructure connectivity.

8.   It can function as a debit and prepaid card catering to both banked and unbanked individuals.

9.   It has biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and pictures, as the primary medium for identity verification through the data on the card chip.

10.                Its additional features include travel, health insurance information, microloans, agriculture, food stamps, transport, and energy subsidies, etc.

Some critics of the programme have raised the issue of funding, saying the capital outlay will be unjustifiable. At a period the government is complaining of paucity of funds to run government and provide infrastructure, expending huge amounts on something that is neither necessary nor expedient is bad economics.

Others ask what pressing problems the ID system is designed to solve. Will the new cards system add value to the ailing economy and inflation?

Will the government borrow to fund the programme, especially with the incessant complains of a lean purse and removal of subsidies on facilities hitherto regarded as services to the citizens?

Many Nigerians are still grappling with binding the NIN with their phone numbers and bank accounts. A new system, it is believed, will further aggravate their problems.

Nigerians already dread having to join long queues to participate in the programme and the envisaged man-hours loss.

Good and innovative as the programme seems, the timing seems to be wrong.