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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) recently unveiled a versatile National ID card designed to fulfill the functions of identity verification, payments, and access to government services.
Further details provided by NIMC indicate that the card will be compatible with various government interventions and services offered by multiple Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
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Additionally, it will be integrated with the eNaira platform in adherence to EMV operational and security standards.
While NIMC has not specified the card’s availability date, it has outlined the application process:
1. Visit the nearest bank or bank-approved center to request the payment card integrated with your identity.
2. Provide your National Identification Number (NIN) for identity verification and confirmation of being at least 18 years old.
3. The bank submits the NIN to NIMC and receives authorized identity data in the required format.
4. Utilize the verified identity data to securely generate the standard EMV data for the card, which is then personalized and printed by a partner bureau.
5. Receive the finalized card from the bank.
Regarding card expiration, NIMC clarified that while the payment functionality (ATM card) will have a standard expiry date printed on the front, the identity portion on the back will only display an issue date without an expiry date.
Once the payment feature expires, cardholders have three options:
1. Obtain a new payment card integrated with identity from the bank, discarding the previous one.
2. Retain the card solely for identification purposes, acquiring a separate standalone payment card from the bank.
3. Continue using the card exclusively for identification without requesting a new payment card, particularly suitable for individuals without bank accounts.
NIMC cautioned users against sharing photocopies or scanned images of the card containing sensitive payment details with unauthorized parties.
While the card does not display the NIN visibly, it can be accessed by scanning the QR code provided.
