When former President Goodluck Jonathan launched the national multipurpose identity card in 2014, it promised to deliver digital solutions like payment, ECOWAS travel document among others. However, 10 years after, the initiative has failed to deliver on its objectives. ADETOLA BADEMOSI writes on the need to harness the benefits of this lofty innovation.
In 2014, the Nigerian Government launched its multipurpose e-identification card. The initiative was supposed to be the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution that fosters a broad financial inclusion programme in Africa.
According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the built-in smart card contains provision for up to 13 applets.
But only five of these applets are activated when an applicant picks up their card.
The national identity card acts as a travel document based on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. It was hoped that the document will be used for ECOWAS travel (without the need for a passport), as the applet cannot be forged.
Also, as an electronic ID, it offers strong authentication and digital signature. The microcontroller securely holds the National Identification Number (NIN), the holder’s address, name, and other details.
Using the card as a payment tool, Nigerians can also 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 ATMs that accept MasterCard payment cards in Nigeria and in more than 210 countries and territories globally.
However, years later, Nigeria is unable to totally deliver this lofty initiative to its citizens. First, the majority of the cards printed during the first phase were unclaimed until they expired.
Secondly, the e-ID was designed with an expiry date. Once this expires, Nigerians are expected to pay for renewal.
Nigeria’s peculiar ID systems
Nigeria, like most countries, operates both a foundational identification (ID) system concerned with accounting for the population overall, and functional IDs, used to demonstrate eligibility for certain services.
The country’s digital identity ecosystem is based on the foundational identity in form of the National Identity Number (NIN), which the government intends to make the central, most widely used form of identity.
That said, before now, once a citizen is enrolled into the national identity database, he is issued a slip containing the NIN and tracking ID. A few weeks later, he is called upon to pick up the multipurpose e-ID card.
This process, however, runs into months. While some were lucky enough to get theirs, others never did.
Currently with over 104 million Nigerians registered in the identity database, only an identification number is given.
This implies that the country currently lacks a valid national identification card for its citizens.
Although, the NIMC Act, mandates the issuance of a national identity card for all registered persons in Nigeria, this is no longer the case.
Meanwhile, in 2019, the agency announced that the renewal of the national identity card will cost N3,000, while replacement would cost N5,000.
But ever since, the FG has placed focus on the NIN enrolment. According to the agency, “Our main focus is ensuring that all Nigerians are enrolled and issued their NIN. Your NIN is the most important token of your enrollment.
“Your NIN can be authenticated through our verification portal without your card.
“You will be issued your cards when funds permit. Please bear with us. Your NIN is generated immediately for you upon successful completion of your enrollment.”
E-ID benefits unharnessed, shortlived
When Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan launched the smart card in 2014, it promised to proffer mind-blowing digital solutions like making payments which, in the long run, would foster financial inclusion, accessing social benefits, travel documents among others.
However, the goal was not achieved as many Nigerians at the time did not trust the innovation enough to use it as a payment system.
Others who would love to, were not able to get their cards before it expired.
“Through the help of an official, I got my e-ID card and was told me I could load money on it but it supports only one bank.
“I don’t have an account in that bank and I didn’t understand how it was going to work so I just kept it at home. Funny enough, no one has ever asked me for it.
“What they usually ask for is the NIN,” said Joseph Akpan, a secondary school teacher.
Ernest Churchill, a businessman brought out a small-sized envelope containing his national ID card which was still brand new but expired. It looked unused.
“When I collected it, I thought it is something that we need to tender to access some services. But one particular day, I went to GT Bank so they asked me for my NIN so I gave them the card but they just photocopied it and returned it and insisted that I should still go and bring my NIN.
“I didn’t have the NIN on me that day so I was forced to come back. Since that day, I just go about with the NIN and no one has ever asked me for the ID card,” he added.
For Zainab Yahaya, a civil servant, she registered in 2015 but waited endlessly for her national identity card, which never came.
“I registered in Abuja but when I got married, we relocated to Ibadan. I visited the NIMC but they said I should apply for transfer. I did but up till today, I did not receive any message from them,” said Yahaya.
Apparently, as fast as the innovation came, the numerous benefits were not fully harnessed by Nigerians before it was jettisoned.
Meanwhile, in 2018, NIMC denied that it suspended the issuance of national identification cards to successful applicants.
Although, the then Commission’s Director General (DG), Aliyu Aziz, had stated that the focus of the commission was to populate the National Identity Database (NIDB) and issue the NIN, NIMC insisted that card issuance had not been halted.
“However, Nigerians and legal residents are reminded that the National Identification Number (NIN) is the unique identifier and most important token issued by the Commission and not the physical e-ID card,” he had said.
But in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, a highly placed source at the commission who pleaded anonymity, recently confirmed that the physical ID cards were no longer printed.
“No, they don’t print cards anymore. Whatever you want to do, you can use your NIN,” he said.
Driving Nigeria beyond intermediate levels of digital development
Like the Ghana card, Nigeria’s general multipurpose card can phase out the use of other multiple functional ID cards like the voter’s card, driver’s licence, health insurance card among several others.
Already, the card was built with space for 13 applets. If and when adequate harmonisation of systems with the other ID card issuing agencies is done, this will reduce the cost of producing cards with different functions.
Meanwhile, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, in 2023 announced plans to collaborate with the NIMC to ensure the successful rollout and registration of digital national IDs for all Nigerians.
He said the ambitious target was to provide at least 148 million people of working age with a digital national ID by the middle of 2024, marking a significant step towards inclusion and accessibility.
“Our main mission here in Nigeria is to eliminate poverty, make lives better, create jobs, for all Nigerian youths. One of the areas that we think have the greatest potential is the area of using digital technologies to transform. Now to do that it begins with having this digital national ID.
“So, one of the main partnerships we have is working with NIMC to ensure the rollout of the registration so that all Nigerians have a digital national ID, beginning of course with all people of working age and I think the target for that is at least 148 million people by the middle of next year,” said Chaudhuri.
“The second is helping Nigeria lead the broadband infrastructure for broadband connectivity because Without broadband connectivity digital technologies will lead to a digital divide. So, their support has been for good kinds of policies and regulations that will help invite private investment into this space and then fibre optic cables,” he added.
Also, the Nigerian Government approved a policy that enables commercial banks to issue debit cards that doubles as an identity card.
According to a former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, “It is going to be a form of the multipurpose card where it will serve as your national identity card on one hand, and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa or any other kind of card.”
When contacted, the NIMC General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Kayode Adegoke said the Commission will launch a new card by Q1 2024.
“Yes. We are targeting Q1 2024 for a launch of the new card,” he said.
No doubt, the NIMC has made considerable progress with the enrolment of over 104 million Nigerians in its database, it also needs to look into harnessing the socio-economic benefits of the multipurpose identity card.
This report is produced under the DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme of the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop.