NIMC Trains Staff on eID Cards Activation

In preparation for the arrival of the eID Cards in the states, the National Identity management Commission (NIMC) has embarked on intensive training of card activation officers for the 36 states and FCT.

The training is presently underway at the NIMC Head Office, Abuja.

NIMC said recently it was ready to issue Nigerians with the card, with President Goodluck Jonathan the first to receive his card.

According to the NIMC, the pilot phase of the project begins the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion programme in Africa.

The eID card has been deployed by as part of the NIMC’s mandate to create, maintain and operate the country's first central National Identity Database and provide proof of identity to Nigerians over the age of 16.

The cards contain 13 applications, including MasterCard's prepaid payment technology and Cryptovision's biometric identification technology, and is seeking to provide banking services to millions of previously unserved Nigerians.

At the commencement of the training, the Commission posted a message on its Facebook page, commending Nigerians “for their massive support and understanding as we progress carefully on the mission to attain a successful National Identity Management System”.