The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has launched an innovative identity solution with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services.
Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
He explained that AfriGO will power the National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, and is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
According to NIMC, the card will address the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to prove their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, empower citizens, and encourage increased participation in nation-building.
“Only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) can 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 can use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking them to bank accounts of their choice.
“The card shall enable eligible persons, especially those financially excluded from social and financial services, to have access to multiple government intervention programs”, the Commission stated.