MasterCard supports the Nigerian Identity Card Program

In the initial phase 16 years and older Nigerians and all residents in the country for more than two years, will receive the new multipurpose identity card which has 13 applications including MasterCard’s prepaid payment technology that will allow cardholders to make electronic payments.

Financial services provider Access Bank will be the pilot issuer bank for the cards and payment services provider Unified Payment Services Limited (Unified Payments) will act as the payment processor. Other issuing banks will include United Bank for Africa, Union Bank, Zenith, Skye Bank, Unity Bank, Stanbic and First Bank.

The new National Identity Smart Card will incorporate the unique National Identification Numbers (NIN) of duly registered persons in the country. The enrollment process involves the recording of an individual’s demographic data and biometric data (capture of 10 fingerprints, facial picture and digital signature) that are used to authenticate the cardholder and eliminate fraud and embezzlement. The resultant National Identity Database will provide the platform for several other value propositions of the NIMC including identity authentication and verification.

The National Identity Smart Card is the card scheme under the recently deployed National Identity Management System (NIMS). This program is the largest roll-out of a formal electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion initiative of its kind on the African continent.

Upon completion of the National ID registration process, NIMC has revealed plans to introduce more than 100 million cards to Nigeria’s 167 million citizens.