According to the National Identity Management Commission, which is scheduled to introduce the Improved NIMC Card, the new card will facilitate government-to-people services and provide several features to enhance access to government interventions.
The card is intended to guarantee the efficient delivery of government services, especially to vulnerable Nigerians, according to Dr. Peter Iwegbu, Director of Card Management Services at NIMC, who discussed the proposal during a press event in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, the card would solve the problem of identifying people who would benefit from government interventions by offering a safe and authentic way to obtain these services.
He stated, “The second programme is addressing the need for government services being delivered. There have been challenges in identifying the people who participate in government interventions.
“The government-to-people card addresses this need for the government, its agencies, and even the private sector to identify those provided with such services in a secure and verifiable manner. This is on the back of the national identification number card.”
Iwegbu went on to say that the program is in line with NIMC’s mission to enrol Nigerians and provide them with general-purpose cards.
He also mentioned that the new card programs are designed to solve social and economic challenges by combining identity as a foundation with payment capabilities.
“The programmes will provide support to Nigerians,” he said. “It is a three-in-one card, which means it gives access to government services, serves as a form of identification, and facilitates financial transactions.”
He emphasised that the card would enhance security by enabling authorities to track fraudulent activities.
He noted that the government-to-people card would be personalised to each ministry, department, and agency that adopts its usage and would be programme-driven.
According to him, the initiative is targeted at ensuring that government services and initiatives are delivered effectively to vulnerable groups across the country.
The NIMC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems, AfriGO, Data Mining Company, and other stakeholders, is set to roll out digital cards equipped with multiple wallets to drive financial inclusion and improve Nigeria’s gross domestic product.
These cards will allow Nigerians to access government services across MDAs while also serving as a platform for students to secure government loans.
Farmers registered under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have already adopted the cards for government services, including agricultural loans, seedlings, and other inputs aimed at boosting food production and security.
The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, highlighted that the biometric-enabled cards align with the eight-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu and are designed to address the socioeconomic needs of Nigerians.
Speaking at the media briefing on the Improved NIMC Card Program, Coker-Odusote explained that the cards would be available to citizens both within and outside the country and to legitimate residents, enabling them to perform various transactions such as paying utility bills, accessing transportation services, and shopping.
“The cards can be used offline and online, providing services for unbanked citizens in rural areas and supporting businesses in need of government aid. Nigerians will no longer require intermediaries to access government services and support,” she said.
Coker-Odusote assured that the cards are equipped with advanced security features, making them tamper-proof and preventing ghost beneficiaries from accessing government programmes.
The Managing Director of AfriGO, Ebehijie Momoh, described the card as a groundbreaking domestic solution that would transform Nigeria’s economy.
“The digital card is a domestic solution to drive financial inclusion and provide cost-effectiveness and transparency within the system. It ensures data sovereignty and autonomy, which are critical for economic growth,” she said.
Momoh also noted that the card would support the government’s cashless policy by ensuring that financial transactions remain within the domestic economy.
