FG Dumps National ID Card, Opts For New Digital Identification

The Nigerian government is set to cancel existing national identity card, and replace it with a digital means of identification.

This was disclosed by the minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday, August 13.

Aregbesola made this disclosure to the press after the committee on citizen data management and harmonisation held a meeting with the president.

The minister, who doubles as the chairman of the committee, said that the card is no more the focus, adding that the important thing is the National Identity Number (NIN).

 According to him, the digital process will be domiciled in the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Reacting to the development, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami stated that the world had gone digital and stopped focusing on the production of cards.

“What the chairman is saying now is that we are no more talking about cards, the world has gone digital. So, that card is no more,” he said.

Our priority now is digital ID, it will be attached to your database wherever you are.

Pantami further explained that the government was now focused on the digital ID and not on the card.

“Now, our focus is no longer on producing cards, that card is only for record but what is important is that the digital ID and if you notice we have started using the digital ID on the international passport.