eTranzact and its partners – Puzzles Group and the Nigeria Police Force have launched the Nigerian Police Warrant Card; in furtherance of its commitment to providing secure, convenient and cost-effective payment solutions.
The card has been specifically designed to assist the Nigeria Police in its effort to establish a reliable identification program, rebrand, fight internal fraud, eliminate ghost workers/pensioners and make life easier and more convenient for men and women of the Force.
Valentine Obi, chief executive officer, eTranzact, described the Police Warrant Card as one of the big dreams of Mike Okiro, the incumbent inspector general of police (IGP), stating that the warrant card, which is a multipurpose card doubles as an ID card, salary payment card and performs other numerous functions and is proudly powered by eTranzact.
“The new card,” he added, “in being multi-functional tallies with Okiro’s dream of a refocused Nigeria Police.”
Addressing the top rank of the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja recently, Obi said “the new Nigerian Police Warrant Card though serves as the official identity card; its functions will include that of a regular payment card, meaning that a policeman or woman can walk to any ATM and collect cash with the Warrant Card 24/7. He or she can also use the card for web transactions such as payment for goods and services, booking and paying for an airline ticket electronically.”
Obi added that the card, which carries the picture of the bearer, comes with specific codes unique to individual policemen or women. The card is also distinguished by the different colours associated with the different ranks within the Police Command. “Like an ATM card,” Obi advised, “the Warrant Card comes with a static personal identification number (PIN), which is a default number that can be changed to individual’s PIN upon activation for security purposes.
He added that, “eTranzact is committed to the welfare of every citizen of the country and believes that the Police Force occupies a unique position in the scheme of moving Nigeria forward, hence the development of a multi-functional card to help them access their funds on regular basis without delay from any quarters.”
Obi lauded the IGP for making the initiative a reality and for his invaluable input into the development of its security features, persuading him to assist in the nationwide verification exercise for all policemen and women which begins on November 4 – a prerequisite to the issuance of the warrant cards to all men/women of the Force.
Thanking eTranzact for the laudable project, the Police boss urged all officers of the Nigeria Police to cooperate with eTranzact and its partner banks to ensure a successful verification and issuance of the warrant card, adding that with the new warrant card, salary payment will now be made directly to each policeman’s account. Each police officer will also be alerted via SMS immediately a transaction occurs on his or her account.
Declaring January 1, 2009 as the effective date by which no Nigerian policeman or woman should parade the old identity card, Okiro admonished individual police officer to present himself or herself in person for the verification exercise, as no card will be issued by proxy. He expressed confidence that by the end of the exercise, eTranzact would have assisted the Nigeria Police with the data to state categorically the total number of men and women in the Force.