FCT tests runs new National ID card format
Jonah Iboma
A new staff identity card, which would serve as a means of access control, a cash and ATM card among others functionalities, is to be issued to workers in the Federal Capital Territory soon.
At a demonstration of the product in Abuja on Friday, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said the card christened General Multi-Purpose card is a pilot to the eventual introduction of a new national ID, which would have an extension of its features.
El-Rufai said government moved for the new card due to the need to have a reliable way of identifying citizens uniquely adding that besides access control, the new card would also contain employment records of the carrier which would be used for payroll and other purposes..
He said, when eventually delivered, the new national ID card would serve as a driver’s license, and contain biometrics characteristic of the carrier which would be useful in the time of emergency as well as act as a debit card that can be used for electronic business transactions.
As a cash card, the new FCT workers ID card can be used for withdrawal of money from Automatic Teller Machines and make purchases at Point of Sales terminals as well as enable electronic funds transfer.
The General Multi-Purpose card, was designed by a Lagos- based card solutions firm, Secure ID Limited in partnership with Intercontinental Bank as well as Interswitch Limited, owners of a national transaction payment platform.
Managing Director of Secure ID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkungbe, said the card is highly secured as it comes with various hidden features that uniquely identifies an owner making it very difficult for it to be reproduced.
She said the card comes with enough memory allowing additional information to be stored if necessary and its current features are based on the request of the FCT.
In the planned introduction of the card at the Federal capital Development Authority offices, about 40 doors are to be installed with access control machines and all the 20,000 workers in the FCT would also get a copy. The total cost of the project is about N39million.
El-Rufai said Interswitch was brought into the scheme in order to ensure that the carriers can easily use it for electronic payment purposes given that 23 banks are currently on of the Interswitch network.
A new staff identity card, which would serve as a means of access control, a cash and ATM card among others functionalities, is to be issued to workers in the Federal Capital Territory soon.
At a demonstration of the product in Abuja on Friday, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said the card christened General Multi-Purpose card is a pilot to the eventual introduction of a new national ID, which would have an extension of its features.
El-Rufai said government moved for the new card due to the need to have a reliable way of identifying citizens uniquely adding that besides access control, the new card would also contain employment records of the carrier which would be used for payroll and other purposes..
He said, when eventually delivered, the new national ID card would serve as a driver’s license, and contain biometrics characteristic of the carrier which would be useful in the time of emergency as well as act as a debit card that can be used for electronic business transactions.
As a cash card, the new FCT workers ID card can be used for withdrawal of money from Automatic Teller Machines and make purchases at Point of Sales terminals as well as enable electronic funds transfer.
The General Multi-Purpose card, was designed by a Lagos- based card solutions firm, Secure ID Limited in partnership with Intercontinental Bank as well as Interswitch Limited, owners of a national transaction payment platform.
Managing Director of Secure ID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkungbe, said the card is highly secured as it comes with various hidden features that uniquely identifies an owner making it very difficult for it to be reproduced.
She said the card comes with enough memory allowing additional information to be stored if necessary and its current features are based on the request of the FCT.
In the planned introduction of the card at the Federal capital Development Authority offices, about 40 doors are to be installed with access control machines and all the 20,000 workers in the FCT would also get a copy. The total cost of the project is about N39million.
El-Rufai said Interswitch was brought into the scheme in order to ensure that the carriers can easily use it for electronic payment purposes given that 23 banks are currently on of the Interswitch network.
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