April 8, 2024/CSL Research

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) said it would issue Nigerians a new National Identity Card. According to a press statement released by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the FGN, through the NIMC in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has announced the launching of a new identity solution with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services to be supported by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.

The new national ID card is said to be layered with verifiable National Identity features, backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates NIMC to enrol and issue a General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents. The card boasts several innovative features, including biometric authentication through fingerprints and photographs, Nigeria’s Quick Response (NQR) code containing the NIN, and a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) containing e-passport information. These enhancements are designed to enhance security and efficiency in identity verification processes.

Introducing the 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. However, reports indicate that only registered citizens and legal residents possessing the National Identification Number (NIN) will qualify to obtain the card. While 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 104.16m Nigerians 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 NIMC noted that the ease of requesting and collecting it would greatly influence people’s willingness to participate. Past challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, staffing shortages, and technical difficulties hindered many Nigerians from enrolling for the NIN. The issue of multiple identity cards is also of concern, as many citizens possess various identification documents such as BVN, PVC, NIN, International Passport, and Driver’s License.