The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, will introduce an identity solution with integrated payment features for various social and financial services.
NIMC‘s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed this information in an official statement issued on Friday, April 5.
This initiative, known as AfriGO, will leverage the National Identity Card by incorporating verifiable identity features mandated by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.
The statement read in part:
“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 programmes.”
The new National ID card aims to meet the need for reliable physical identification, granting cardholders access to government and private services.
It will also promote financial inclusion, empower citizens, and foster greater engagement in nation-building efforts.