The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, NIBSS, has introduced an innovative identity solution with payment functionality for various types of social and financial services.
The Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, had made this disclosure in a statement he released on Friday.
Adegoke had explained that AfriGO will power the National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, and is supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
According to NIMC, the card will solve the demand for physical identification, allowing cardholders to prove their identity, access government and private social services, promote financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, accredit citizens, and encourage more participation in nation-building.
In Adegoke’s words:
“Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be able to request the card. The card, which will be made according to ICAO standards, and is being positioned as the country’s default national identity card.“In addition to this functionality, cardholders can use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by connecting them to bank accounts of their choice. The card will also enable eligible persons, particularly those financially excluded from social and financial services, to have access to multiple government intervention programs”.
