NIMC, the National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria, has launched its Nigerian multipurpose electronic ID cards, which combines Identity functions with other applications including the MasterCard prepaid functionality. NIMC has selected suppliers NXP Semiconductors and Smart Packaging Solutions (SPS) to participate in the project along with MasterCard.
Lagos, Nigeria; Eindhoven, Netherlands; Rousset, France; Capetown, South Africa, November 18, 2013 –
NIMC, the National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria, has finalized all the technology choices for the Nigerian eID cards, and will start issuing them within the first quarter of 2014 after a proposed launch of the Card by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. Earlier this year, the Nigerian government announced a pilot program to issue 13 million eID Cards to residents. The card includes a MasterCard prepaid functionality as well as 12 other applications. The pilot is bound to be a success as 21 local financial institutions have applied for licenses. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has the authority to establish, own, operate, maintain, and manage the National Identity Database (NID) in Nigeria and to register persons covered by the law. Nigerians from 16 years and above and all residents in the country for more than two years will get the new multipurpose identity card. The eID card system is the largest financial inclusion project in Africa, which is gaining significant private sector participation. NIMC’s primary focus has been to achieve a paradigm shift away from a focus in identity card issuance to identity management in a manner that combines a wide range of value proposition based on the identity-payment nexus.
Chris ‘E Onyemenam, the Director General and Chief Executive of the National Identity Management Commission, said “The National Identity Smart Card project will support financial inclusion as it allows us to bring financial services to all classes of the Nigerian population. Nigeria is home to the largest roll-out of a combination of electronic ID card with a formal electronic payment solution in the world. This represents the broadest financial inclusion initiative in Africa. We are very happy to have technology experts such as SPS, NXP Semiconductors and MasterCard aboard the Nigerian eID card project as this will ensure the technical success of the roll out program that will mean the issuance of over 100 million cards.”
The Nigeria national eID, one of the most sophisticated smartcard projects to date, offers identification, PIN and fingerprint authentication; digital signature and payment functionality to their citizens on a single highly secured card. NXP Semiconductors’ vast project experience and deep understanding of smart card system solutions coupled with a comprehensive product offering, which covers the secure microcontroller, NXP’s JCOP Java Card operating system and the complete range of Applets, ensured that the NIMC project exceeded expectations despite the high levels of technical complexity. The new eID cards uses NXP’s SmartMX secure microcontrollers in combination with the world renowned IntegralSecurityTM architecture to safeguard Nigeria’s citizen data against attacks.
Smart Packaging Solutions (SPS) is proud to deliver a uniquely dedicated micromodule technology for the NIMC eID project. Thanks to its expertise in integration and manufacturing, SPS delivers micromodules to the card manufacturers involved in the project. SPS has designed a unique micromodule showing the Nigeria Coat of Arms for the needs of the Nigerian ID card. This dedicated design etched with the Nigeria Coat of Arms provides a high level of security for the National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria. SPS presence in this project reinforces the company’s position on the global eID market: besides NIMC, Smart Packaging Solutions delivers electronics for eID documents (ID cards and passports) to 15 customers worldwide.
“MasterCard is committed to seeing broader financial inclusion become a reality for more and more of Nigeria’s unbanked and under-banked citizens. The MasterCard prepaid payment capability embedded in the National ID Smart card achieves this while enabling citizens to use the card as their single proof of identity. When fully utilizing the card as a prepaid payment tool, the cardholder can deposit funds on the card, receive social benefits, pay for goods and services at any of the over 35.9 million MasterCard acceptance locations globally, withdraw cash from all ATMs that accept MasterCard, or engage in many other financial transactions that are facilitated by electronic payments,” said Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice-President and Area Business Head, MasterCard in West Africa.
About NIMC
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was established by the NIMC Act No.23, 2007 as the primary legal, regulatory and institutional mechanism for implementing a reliable and sustainable national identity management system that will enable Nigerian citizens and legal residents assert their identity. The Act mandates the NIMC to create, own, operate and manage a national identity database, issue national identification numbers to registered individuals, provide identity authentication and verification services, issue multipurpose smartcards, integrate identity databases across government agencies and foster the orderly development of the identity sector in Nigeria. The Act also empowered the NIMC to collaborate with any public and or private sector organization to realize its objectives. More information at www.nimc.gov.ng
About NXP Semiconductors
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) creates solutions that enable secure connections for a smarter world. Building on its expertise in High Performance Mixed Signal electronics, NXP is driving innovation in the automotive, identification and mobile industries, and in application areas including wireless infrastructure, lighting, healthcare, industrial, consumer tech and computing. NXP has operations in more than 25 countries, and posted revenue of $4.36 billion in 2012. Find out more at www.nxp.com
About SPS
With more than 20 years of experience in the field of smart card technologies, Smart Packaging Solutions is specialized in the design, manufacturing and sale of contactless solutions dedicated to ID cards, e-passport and dual interface banking cards. Headquartered in Rousset, France, SPS employs 120 people. The company specializes in contact, contactless and dual-interface products, with a recognized micro packaging expertise. SPS has filed over 120 patents supporting its exclusive technologies. More information at www.s-p-s.com
About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter: @MasterCardNews, @MasterCardMEA, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
Contacts
NIMC: Ben Alofoje, Director Research and Strategy Office of the DG/CEO, NIMC
NXP Semiconductors: Rolan Jahn, Marketing Manager Secure ID, rolan.jahn@nxp.com
SPS: Olivier BRUNET, Product & Marketing director, SPS, contact@s-p-s.com,
tel: +33 4 42 53 84 44
MasterCard: Sami Lahoud, Middle East & Africa Communications, MasterCard, sami_lahoud@mastercard.com