MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigerian National Identity Management Commission, MasterCard Launch eID Cards for Biometric Identity Verification, Electronic Payments

The Nigerian National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a government initiative responsible for instituting a national identity database of Nigerian citizens and legal residents, recently announced the launch of its National eID Card pilot program in partnership with MasterCard, a US-based payment solutions company [1]. Under the pilot program, 13 million Nigerians will receive “MasterCard-branded” cards, called eID cards, that can be used for biometrics-based identity verification as well as for electronic payments. The program is intended to expand financial inclusion by providing Nigerians proof of identity to access banking products as well as to bring about the “security, convenience and reliability” of electronic payments. NIMC reportedly is working with various government agencies to consolidate the system with other databases, such as birth and death records, driver license, voter registration, health insurance, tax information and pension.

In addition to MasterCard, NIMC collaborated with the following organizations to roll out the pilot program: Access Bank Plc, a Nigerian financial services company that is one of the issuers of the new cards; Germany-based Cryptovision, which provided the biometrics-based identification technology; and Unified Payment Services Limited, a payment processor owned by a consortium of Nigerian banks.

Nigerians aged 16 and over may register at NIMC centers where their biometric and demographic data will be recorded and they will be issued a National Identification Number and the eID card.

By Nisha Koul, Research Associate

About Access Bank Plc: Established in 1989, Access Bank Plc is a Nigeria-based commercial bank that provides financial services such as institutional, commercial and retail banking. The bank also has three non-banking subsidiaries – United Securities Limited, Access Homes and Mortgages Limited, and Access Investment and Securities. As of June 2014, Access Bank Plc had total assets of NGN 2.04 trillion (USD 12.5 billion), a gross loan portfolio of NGN 949 billion (USD 5.9 billion), deposits of NGN 1.46 trillion (USD 9 billion) and approximately 310 branches in nine African countries and the United Kingdom [2].

About MasterCard: MasterCard is a global payments and technology company that is headquartered in New York, USA. It connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in approximately 210 countries and territories. As of December 2013, MasterCard reports total assets of USD 14.2 billion and 1.2 billion payment cards in circulation.

About National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria (NIMC, Nigeria): Established in 2007, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is responsible for creating and implementing a national identity management system for Nigerian citizens and legal residents.

Sources and Additional Resources:

[1] MasterCard, Press Release, MasterCard-branded National eID Card Launched in Nigeria

[2] Access Bank Plc, Results Announcements

MicroCapital Story, June 23, 2014, Bank of Punjab, MasterCard Launch Electronic Government-To-Person Social Security Payment System in Pakistan

MicroCapital Story, July 21, MasterCard, Nigeria National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to Produce 13 Million “National Identity Smart Cards”

MicroCapital Story, July 25, 2013, Nigerian Government Promotes 19 Microfinance Banks to Increase Financial Inclusion

MicroCapital Universe Profile, Access Bank Plc

MicroCapital Universe Profile, MasterCard

MicroCapital Universe Profile, National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria (Nigeria NIMC)

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