Nigerians to Start Using Three-in-One ID Card in August, Says Official

In a move towards streamlining identity verification and service access, Nigerians will begin using a new three-in-one identity card by August this year. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has confirmed that the multipurpose card, which combines identity, financial, and social services, will be available nationwide in two months.

A high-ranking member of the implementation team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, shared this update during an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH. The official emphasized that the commission has been diligently working to meet its goals, and the project is on schedule for launch in the coming months.

“We actually plan for July although there have been a few delays but we are still hopeful that it would come in July. So we are hoping to get it done between July and August. We are still on plan and if there is any shift, the public will know,” the official stated.

The testing and deployment phase has already commenced. “When you are deploying a new technology, there is a lot of work to be done. You need to configure the card, enable the outlet, and enable the wallet to work. We also have to do tests and that is what is ongoing,” the official explained.

Key aspects of the deployment include ensuring the scalability of the service portal and integrating the card’s functionality with all banks. “The deployment is ongoing, the portal that people need to access the service has to be deployed, and we have to make sure that it is scalable and those are the ongoing works. There are integrations that all the banks need to do to enable the card and all of those little details are ongoing. We have that target and we are working extra hard to make sure that we achieve that,” the official added.

On April 5, 2024, the NIMC announced the launch of the new card, which features payment capabilities and social service functions, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. This identity solution is designed to facilitate all types of social and financial services.

According to the NIMC, the initiative aims to offer more options for domestic consumers while enhancing service delivery in an innovative, cost-effective, and competitive manner. The new identity cards will include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.