Encomium
On Thursday, August 28, 2014, a historical event was recorded in Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan launched the biometric electronic identity (e-ID) card. The e-ID card would replace the former identity card that was launched 10 years ago without biometric and electronic features.
The new e-ID card, according to experts, will further enhance national development in the areas of single database for easy and quick access to information as well as online financial transactions.
Apart from using it as a means of national identity, the card is also designed to serve as a personal database repository and payment card, all embedded in the single electronic card. The card comes with multifunctional features, which allow the cardholder to use it as a means of identity and for carrying out financial transactions, using any bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The card can also be used for electronic signatures, biometric on-card verification and other applications.
The new cards parades two photographs of the holder, name, age, unique ID number and a chip storing an individual’s biometric information including 10 fingerprints and an iris scan using a system developed by Cryptovision. All these are scanned during enrolment of the cardholder and are intended to ensure that there are no duplicates on the system. The card, according to National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the agency in charge of the distribution, can also be used as voters’ card for every election in the country, apart from being used for electronic signatures, electronic payments, biometric on-card verification, among other applications.
The economic values of the e-ID card are many. The card can be used as a payment tool, Nigerians can deposit funds, receive social benefits, save, or engage in many other financial transactions that are facilitated by electronic payments with the extra security assurance that biometric verification provides.
They can also pay for goods and services and withdraw cash at millions of POS and ATMs that accept MasterCard payment cards in Nigeria and in more than 210 countries and territories globally. Generally, the national e-ID card will help in providing access to financial transactions to as many Nigerians that would be issued with the card, thereby boosting the number of Nigerians that will access banks services which the CBN is trying to achieve with the cashless policy.
The e-ID is built on MasterCard technology, and it comes branded with MasterCard, thus giving it international recognition and acceptance, based on the world-class security features embedded in it.
The issuer of the card, NIMC, is working with several government agencies to integrate and harmonise all identity databases including driver’s license, voter registration, health insurance, tax, SIM and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) into a single. This would create an optimised common platform for Nigerian citizens to easily interact with the various government agencies and to transact electronically. The card also functions as an international travel document, which will have significant implications for border control in Nigeria and West Africa.
While NIMC will facilitate and coordinate the entire process, MasterCard will provide payments technology on which the card runs, and Unified Payment Services Limited provided the payments processor. Cryptovision, which is also part of the collaboration, will provide the public key infrastructure and trust services, while pilot issuing banks provide the financial services.
To receive the e-ID card, Nigerians aged 16 and above need to register at one of the hundreds of NIMC’s enrolment centres nationwide. The enrolment process, which is open to all Nigerians that are 16 years and above, across several registration centres in the 36 states of the federation, including the federal capital, involves the recording of an individual’s demographic data and biometric data, which captures 10 fingerprints, and facial picture to authenticate the cardholder and ensure that there are no duplicates on the system. Upon registration, NIMC will issue each Nigerian with a unique National Identification Number, followed by the national e-ID card.
HOW TO OBTAIN PERMANENT VOTERs CARD
After Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approved the final specimen of the permanent voter cards, it started the distribution across different states of the federation. The distribution was done in August and a new date would soon be announced for the continuation of the exercise.
Without the permanent voters card which replaces the old one, many Nigerians may not have the opportunity to elect their leaders in the 2015 general elections.
The project for the production of a permanent voters card was awarded to Art Technology Limited, with the technical partner, Obature in France, at the cost N2.6 billion.
All one needs to do to get the permanent voters card is to present the old one used in the last general elections at a designated centre, and the officer will help locate your permanent card.
HOW TO REPLACE LOST OR DAMAGED VOTER’S CARDS
- The voter shall apply in person to the electoral officer or any other officer duly authorized for that purpose by the resident electoral commissioner.
- The application shall be at least 30 days before an election.
- The applicant shall state the circumstances of the loss or damage.
- The applicant shall be issued with a duplicate copy of his/her original voter’s card.
- The word “DUPLICATE” will be marked or printed on it clearly. The date of issue will also be printed on the new voters card.
