MasterCard-branded Electronic ID Card Launched In Nigeria

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan today
received his National eID card, heralding the
official launch of the eID pilot program. In the

pilot phase, the Nigerian Identity Management
Commission (NIMC) will issue MasterCard-
branded identity cards with electronic payments
functionality to 13 million Nigerians. This
initiative is the largest rollout of a biometric-
based verification card with an electronic
payment solution in the country and the
broadest financial inclusion program in Africa.
The eID card forms a key component of the
Nigerian Identity Management System, deployed
by NIMC as part of its mandate to create,
maintain and operate the country’s first central
National Identity Database and provide proof of
identity to Nigerians 16 years and older.
With 13 applications, including MasterCard’s
prepaid payment technology and Cryptovision’s
biometric identification technology, the eID card
will provide millions of Nigerians – the majority
of whom have never had access to a banking
product – with the security, convenience and
reliability of electronic payments.
At a celebratory event held in Abuja, His
Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan said: “I
am happy that this important milestone of the
rollout of the National Identity Management
System has been realized today. I am impressed
with the quality of the eID card and the work of
the corporate partners that made it possible. I
commend especially MasterCard, and Access
Bank Plc, as well as the Commission (NIMC) for
achieving a world-class product.”
He said the card builds a window to a social
security benefit system and therefore, it is a
card every Nigerian should get.
NIMC is working with several government
agencies to integrate and harmonize all identity
databases including the Driver’s License, Voter
Registration, Health Insurance, Tax, SIM and the
National Pension Commission (PENCOM) into a
single, shared services platform.
“The National eID program enables us to create
an optimized common platform for Nigerian
citizens to easily interact with the various
government agencies and to transact
electronically,” says Barr. Chris ‘E Onyemenam,
Director General and CEO of NIMC. “There are
many use cases for the card, including the
potential to use it as an international travel
document, which will have significant
implications for border control in Nigeria and
West Africa.”
“In close collaboration with both the public and
private sectors to achieve the full potential of
this program, NIMC is focused on inclusive
citizenship, more effective governance, and the
creation of a cashless economy, all of which will
stimulate economic growth, investment and
trade,” he adds.
Through the collaborative efforts of NIMC (the
project lead), MasterCard (payments technology
provider), Unified Payment Services Limited
(payments processor), Cryptovision (Public Key
Infrastructure and Trust Services Provider), and
pilot issuing banks including Access Bank Plc, 13
million Nigerians will gain access to state-of-art
financial services as part of the pilot program.