The National Identity Card is the card issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to Nigerians as a means of identification and contains relevant information about the holder. According to NAIJ, the federal government has announced that as from January 1, 2018, no Nigerian will obtain or renew international passports without having the National Identification Number (NIN).
Here are things you need to know about the National ID card: 
National ID card Source: NIMC
1. Persons eligible
The National e-ID Card can only be issued to Nigerians registered into the national identity system and legal residents who have attained the age of 16 years and above. Unlike the National Identification Number (NIN) which is assignable to all Nigerians and legal residents without any age restrictions.
2. Functions
The e-ID card can be used for identification, payment and other applications in Nigeria.
3. Electronic Identity (e-ID)
The National e-ID Card as it contains key information of the applicant or Card holder recorded in the Database.
4. Payment – Europay MasterCard & Visa (EMV)
This payment Function enables the National e-ID Card to be used as a tool for making payments for goods and services in any part of the world.
All that the cardholder needs to do is to visit one of the participating banks (such as Access Bank) and load money on the card or have someone transfer money to the Card using any of the available payment platforms/options.
For example (from a bank account to the Card, Quickteller transfer, POS terminals, ATM) etc.
The card can also be used to pay for goods and services such as utility bills like DSTV, GOTV, Startimes, flight tickets, Water bill, PHCN and so on and in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) all over the world where any of the payment processors (such as Mastercard) is displayed.
5. Match-on-Card (MoC)
The card has your 10 fingerprints taken at the point of registration in to the National Identity Database safely stored away on it. No unauthorised person can access them.
The Match-on Card (MoC) is the most secure technology to authenticate a person. A secure terminal or a Card Acceptance Device (CAD) is used to match a specific fingerprint against that locked away on the National e-ID Card.
Too many attempts, and the applet is blocked for security reasons. That way, an agency or authorised person can be sure that the person presenting the Card is the true owner.
6. International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) – Travel
The National e-ID Card is also a travel document and conforms to such standards as the ICAO just like the International Passport. This function on the Card provides future functionality for anyone who may wish to embark on cross border migration such as regional travel within West Africa and or other consenting Countries where a visa is not required.
Mohammed Babandede, the comptroller general of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), while addressing state house correspondents on Tuesday, August 1 revealed the new policy. He said the development is part of efforts to have a centralised database for Nigerians and to also improve the business environment in the country. (Naij, NIMC)
Very nice “scheme,” if it works the way it’s designed.
I do have a couple of questions though:
1. Why use only one bank (Access bank)? It would have been better to spred the accessibility to at least 6 to 10 national banks. With only 1 bank, people who are not members of that bank will find it hard, if not difficult to access it.
2. The back of the card has “Mastercard” logo…indicating perhaps that Mastercard is the sponsor. There are many financial institutions around the world that do not honor Mastercard…I don’t know if that aspect was considered.
3. Since it’s a national identity card scheme, something Nigeria has been pursuing for quite sometime now, why keep the age of accessibility to 16? That is too high! The age of accessibility should be brought down to 12 or 10. This aspect can help in reducing child trafficking…let’s take this into consideration or advisement.
4. Finally, does the card replace our national passport? Almost all the information in the card is also in the passport. It looks like our passport will be obsolete.
Cash Ezimako