The New National e-ID Card with Payment and Social Services
Introduction
NIMC 2007 ACT No. 23 provides for the establishment of the National Identity Database and the National Identity Management Commission with the responsibilities for maintenance of the National Database, the registration of individuals, and the issuance of General Multipurpose identity cards to Nigerians and legal residents.
Based on the mandate, NIMC commenced enrolment in 2012 and by the end of 2023 had issued 104 million NIN to eligible applicants.
Strategic Roadmap for GMPC Issuance
NIMC has obtained Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approval for the rollout of a new E-ID cards issued under the indigenous Nigerian card scheme AFRIGO. We shall be implementing the following use cases to revive the GMPC card issuance;
- Use Case 1 – Payments
- Use Case 2 – Social Intervention
- Use Case 3 – Optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity travel Card (ENBIC)
Card Features
Use Case 1 – Payments
- The card can function as a debit and prepaid card for both banked and unbanked individuals.
- Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and picture, to aid identity verification.
- Offline capability that will allow transactions to be carried out in areas with limited network coverage.
- Machine-readable Zone (MRZ) for e-passport information in line with ICAO traveling standards.
- Banking details at the back of the card with chip and pin as well as Magnetic stripe enabled.
- Includes Nigeria quick response code (NQR) containing the national identification number.
- Contact and contactless
Challenges Addressed
- Wide distribution and acceptance of the National ID cards.
- Possibility of personalization and fulfillment across the country.
- Easy Requisition and multiple point of request and delivery.
- Free Choice of banks and pick up location.
- Your money and Identity in one card.
- Reduce FX related collaterals on the foreign card schemes.
Use Case 2 – Social Intervention
This use case will be enabled for Identity and for all government intervention and services across multiple Ministry’s, Departments and Agencies (MDA). Among other capabilities and functionalities, it will be enabled for the eNaira in compliance with the EMV operational and security standards.
The following are some of the features:
- Support for multiple wallets: ability to process unique citizens across multiple programs via 32-wallet application on the card.
- Enabled for both online & Offline operation: identity verification & transaction processing with or without real-time connectivity.
- Secure by multi-factor authentication: PIN, fingerprint, & facial recognition.
- Enabled for all government social programs: cash transfer, agricultural loans, student loans, health insurance scheme, micro contribution, micro pension etc.
- Interoperable with existing payment system: ATMs, POS, Mobile Apps, and web-based payment gateways.
- Multicurrency & literacy support: Cash, digital tokens, virtual wallets, and eNaira.
- Ease of Use: via biometric-based transaction & verification processing.
- How to get the Cards: To be issued based on the government programs and existing social register.
Challenges Addressed
- Offline real-time capability addressing infrastructure challenges nationwide.
- Lower social, economic and financial access.
- Verifiable identification no matter the location.
- Use of fingerprint to address literacy issues.
- Real access through electronic money and NOT cash.
- Uplift 133M people out of poverty.
Rollout Plan
1. Activate the bank-enabled National ID immediately to meet the needs of the middle and upper segments who typically use banks within the next 1-2 months.
2. Enable social intervention to meet the urgent needs for authentication and a secure platform for government services such as Palliatives within the next 1-2 months. The focus should be on the 25m Vulnerable Nigerians funded by the current government intervention programs.
3. Provide digital/ virtual version of all cards for those who may want the digital cards but with limited functionalities.
4. Issue ECOWAS travel cards on a need basis in conjunction with Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
How to Apply for the Card
Online Requisition Portal
This is an online request self-service portal that allows NIN holders irrespective of their locations (local & international) to:
- Initiate a card request.
- Select their preferred card type, bank, and pick-up location.
In Branch Card Request – Bank Locatiohs
- A NIN holder approaches his desired bank branch and gets verified through the NIMC verification service.
- After a successful verification, the bank staff fills applicant’s details as listed above on the portal.
- The applicant then pays the required fees to complete the application process.
In Branch Card Request – NIMC Locations
- A NIN holder approaches his desired NIMC enrolment center and gets verified through the NIMC Verification Service.
- After a successful verification, the NIMC staff fills applicant’s details as listed above on the portal.
- The NIMC Staff generates a reference code which the applicant will use to pay and complete the application process at the bank.
- Applicant visits his desired bank branch to make payment.
- The bank staff calls up the application using the reference code submitted by the applicant.
- Payment is made and the application process is completed.
Portal Functionalities
- Fresh/New card Request
- Card Reissuance Request
- Card Deactivation Request
- Card Status Request
Card Pick-Up
- The applicant gets a notification to pick up his card stating the pick-up location.
- Applicant goes to bank.
- Bank staff goes to the portal and indicates the card has been picked up.
- A notification is sent to the bank & NIMC that the card has been picked up.
