Nigeria: National Identity Cards, including implementation of the National Identity Card Policy, requirements and procedures, security features, uses, and whether the card is mandatory

1. National Identity Card Policy

Nigeria's National Identity Management Commission's (NIMC) [1] National Identity Policy provides information on the "objectives, legal framework, rules, guidelines, and principles which form the Card System adopted for the National Identity Management System (NIMS) (Nigeria n.d.a, 2). The policy provides information on eligibility, how to apply for the Nigerian National Identity Card (NNIC), and issuance and usage of the NNIC by the cardholder (ibid.). The policy also provides a reference against which any card that claims to be an NNIC may be measured (ibid.).

The policy indicates that the NIMS consists of five elements: "the National Identity Database or Central Identity Repository, the National Identification Number (NIN) [2], the Identification Card or token, the verification and authentication infrastructure and the harmonization and integration of the existing database" (ibid., iii).

A full copy of the NNIC Policy, including a sample copy of the NNIC, is attached to this Response.

2. Implementation of the National Identity Card

Vanguard, a daily Nigerian newspaper (Vanguard n.d.), reports that Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, launched the NNIC on 28 August 2014 (3 Nov. 2014). The NIMC stated in March 2015 that all NNICs issued by the Department of National Civic Registration would be invalid as of 1 July 2015, and shall not be used for any identification purposes (Nigeria Mar. 2015, 3). Sources further report that the NIMC postponed the compulsory use of the NNIC and its NIN to 9 January 2016, indicating that it needs more time for implementation due to the President's recent directives that all ministries, departments and agencies (MDA's) are required to harmonise their biometric database (New Vision 4 Sept. 2015; Nigeria Daily News 31 Aug. 2015).

The Nation, a daily Nigerian newspaper (n.d.), reports that the NIMC's aim is to issue and manage over 120 million NNICs during the next 5-10 years (3 Nov. 2014). Sources reported in August 2015 that, according to the NIMC's Director General, approximately six million (Vanguard 19 Feb. 2015) to seven million (ibid. 25 Aug. 2015; The Sun 26 Aug. 2015) Nigerians have registered for the NNIC (ibid.; Vanguard 25 Aug. 2015). In contrast, the Sun, a daily Nigerian newspaper (The Sun n.d.), reports that according to the Secretary General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, the NIMC produced 245,000 NNICs (The Sun 6 July 2015).

The Sun also reports that the process and procedures to obtain the NNIC are not as simple as they appear as the local government headquarters that capture the data lack order and "the experience entails endless visits to FRSC [Federal Road Safety Corps] offices for data capturing" (ibid. 5 July 2015). As a result, "many Nigerians … have not been able to get their biometrics captured unless [they go] through the back door" (ibid.). The Vanguard similarly describes the process of issuing NNICs as "cumbersome" (19 Feb. 2015).

The Sun reports that despite the 1 September 2015 deadline for the NIMC's implementation of the NNIC, customers continue to be turned down in Lagos when they attempt to use the card as identification for transactions (The Sun 9 July 2015). The same source notes that, according to a bank official, customers using the NNIC were turned down because the Central Bank of Nigeria had not yet released directives regarding the new ID (ibid.). The Sun further notes that some customers indicated that Nigeria is an "unorganized country" and some Nigerians have expressed concern over whether or not the NIMC will ensure that citizens have their NNIC on or before 1 September 2015 deadline (ibid.).

3. Requirements and Procedures to Obtain a National Identity Card

According to the NNIC Policy, all eligible persons must register for the NNIC at a designated registration center (Nigeria n.d.a, 13-14). The NIMC's website indicates that there are registration centres in all 36 state capitals including the Federal Capital Territory and in Abuja (ibid. n.d.d). The Nation reports that according to the Assistant General Manager and Lagos State Coordinator at NIMC, the commission has 21 enrolment centres (5 Jan. 2015). The same source notes that the centres are located in "Ikeja, Lagos State Univeristy, Ikeja Army Cantonment, Eti-Osa, Ojo, Somolu, Oshodi, Amuwo-Odofin, Ayobo-Ipaja and Agege local governments…FIRS Ikoyi, Lekki Phas I, Bonny Camp, Nigeria Air-force base, Ikeja, Lagos State Polytechnic, Yaba College of Technology and University of Lagos" (The Nation 5 Jan. 2015).

The NIMC's website further notes that there are plans to establish centres in all of the 774 local government offices nationwide as well as to establish special enrolment centres (Nigeria n.d.d). Sources report that according to the Director of NIMC, each enrolment centre that has opened shall remain open "forever" and the NIMC is trying to ensure that enrolment centres are opened in each local government (The Nation 26 Aug. 2015; Vanguard 25 Aug. 2015). The same sources note that in collaboration with MDAs, the NIMC is extending centres to universities, and in the future primary schools and hospitals (ibid.; The Nation 26 Aug. 2015).

Sources report that the enrollment process involves the recording of the applicant's demographic and biometric data including their photograph, name, age, NIN, 10 fingerprints and an iris scan (BBC 28 Aug. 2014; New Vision 4 Sept. 2015) to authenticate the cardholder and ensure that there are no duplicates on the system (ibid.).

For further information on the requirements and procedures for obtaining the Nigerian National Identity card, please see the Nigerian National Identity Card Policy, attached to this Response.

4. Physical Characteristics and Security Features of the National Identity Card

The Nation reports that the NNIC is a Machine Readable Travel Document, recognized by the Civil Aviation Organisation and that according to the head of NIMC, the NNIC endured "rigorous testing by international testing agencies ensur[ing] that the chip meets or exceeds the standards set by the internationally recognised body" (The Nation 9 Oct. 2014). The NIMC head further noted that the first generation of cards has a smartcard chip, but "future generations will be dual-interface (chip and contactless)" (qtd. in The Nation 9 Oct. 2014). Vanguard reports that Nigeria's President said that the new NNIC has several innovated features and he "expressed optimisms that it would enhance security and ease intelligence gathering" (3 Nov. 2014).

Vanguard reports that the "chip-based identity card has over 18 security features" (24 Sept. 2015). The Nation reports that the NNIC has 13 "applets" [applications], including the Match on Card (MoC) [3], electronic identity, electronic public key infrastructure (e-PKI), an International Civil Aviation Organization applet and a payment applet (3 Nov. 2014). The same source notes that there are additional applets for "voters register, Health insurance, insurance policy, Tax, Pension, Driver's License, SIM register, Transport and an extra applet for immediate deployment as necessary" (The Nation 3 Nov. 2014).

For a sample of the NNIC as well as design and security, please see the Nigerian National Identity Card Policy, attached to this Response.

5. Uses of the National Identity Card

The BBC quotes Nigeria's President as stating that "[t]he card is not only a means of certifying your identity, but also a personal database repository and payment card" (28 Aug. 2014). Sources report that the NNIC is a multi-function card (The Nation 3 Nov. 2014; Nigeria n.d.a, 9) "designed to enable citizens and legal residents to prove their identity in Nigeria" (ibid.). Sources further report that the NNIC can also be used for electronic payments and activities (ibid., 10; New Vision 4 Sept. 2015; The Nation 3 Nov. 2014) and that it is designed to "ensure anti-tampering and counterfeiting" (ibid.). The Nation reports that when applicants obtain their NNIC, they must activate the "e-ID" side using their biometrics and if they would like to use the ATM side, they must use their pin (ibid.).

The Nation reports that the head of the NIMC stated that "[i]t is hoped that the document will be used for ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) travel (without the need for a passport), as the data on the chip cannot be forged" (ibid. 9 Oct. 2014).

For further information regarding the NNIC's planned uses, please see the Nigerian National Identity Card Policy, attached to this Response.

5.1 Counterfeit National ID Cards

Sources report that the Nigerian army identified a business centre in Maiduguri responsible for the production of counterfeit national ID cards and other documents for Boko Haram terrorists (The Daily Post 19 Sept. 2015; The Guardian 17 Sept. 2015). Sources report that the Acting Director of Defence Information released a statement indicating that military authorities have issued an alert against the prevalent incidences of unauthorized circulation of fake national identity cards (The Nation 24 Sept. 2015; Vanguard 23 Sept. 2015). The same sources note that in his statement, the Acting Director of Defence further noted that "the implication of fake national ID cards in circulation is that Boko Haram terrorists in the North- East also used [a] similar method of identification" (ibid.; The Nation 24 Sept. 2015).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes:

[1] The NIMC was established by the National Identity Management Commission Act No. 23, 2007 and is responsible for maintaining the National Identity Database, the registration of "Registrable Persons," issuance of National Identification Numbers, National Electronic (eCards) and other related matters (Nigeria Mar. 2015, 3).

[2] The NIN is a unique 11 digit number assigned to a registered individual by which they will be identified for life (Nigeria n.d.a, 7).

[3] The Match on card "is provided at a point of service … it is inserted into a card reader/acceptance device (CAD)[,] the individual places his or her finger on the biometric reader and the device checks that the biometrics in the chip of the card matches the sample individual biometric provided by the individual at the point of service" (Nigeria n.d.a, 10).

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 28 August 2014. "Nigeria Launches National Electronic ID Cards." [Accessed 29 September 2015]

The Daily Post. 19 September 2015. "Miltary Discovers Boko Haram Business Centre [Where] Fake National Identity Cards Are Made." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015]

The Guardian. 17 September 2015. "Army Arrests Producers of Fake National ID Cards for Boko Haram Terrorists." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

The Nation. 24 September 2015. "Fake National ID Cards in Circulation, says DHQ." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 26 August 2015. "National Identity Card to Compliment Voter's Card, Says Buhari." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 5 January 2015. "NIMC Urges Eligible Nigerians to Collect ID Cards." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

_____. 3 November 2014. Chris Onyemenam. "At Last, the National e-ID Card." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 9 October 2014. Lucas Ajanaku. "NIMC Urges National ID Card as Travel Document." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

New Vision. 4 September 2015. "Nigeria to Delay National Biometric eID Deadline." (Factiva)

Nigeria. March 2015. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). "Regulation on the Mandatory Use of the National Identification Number (NIN)." [Accessed 25 Sept. 2015]

_____. N.d.a. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). "The Nigerian National Identity Card Policy?" [Accessed 30 Sept. 2015]

_____. N.d.b. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). "What is the National Identification Number?" [Accessed 25 Sept. 2015]

_____. N.d.c. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). "What is the Cost of Obtaining an ID Card?" [Accessed 25 Sept. 2015]

_____. Nd.d. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)."Where are the Centres for Registration?" [Accessed 25 Sept. 2015]

Nigeria Daily News. 31 August 2015. "NIMC Says Use of National ID Card Compulsory from January 2016." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

The Sun. 26 August 2015. Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye. "Buhari Registers for National ID." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 9 July 2015. Olabisi Olaleye. "Banks Reject New National Identity Card." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 6 July 2015. Bimbola Oyesola. "NIMC'll Produce Only 1m Cards in 36 Years." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 5 July 2015. Olabisi Olaleye. "Biometric Duplicity: Nigerians Protest Multiple ID Cards Registration." (Factiva)

_____. 28 Aug. 2014. "Jonathan Unveils National Identity Card." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

Vanguard. 24 September 2015. "Nigeria: Beware, Boko Haram Terrorists Used Fake National ID Cards, Army Warns." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015]

_____. 23 September 2015. Kingsley Omonobi-Abuja. "DHQ Issues Red Alerts on Circulation of Fake National Identity Card." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 25 August 2015. Levinus Nwabughiogu. "National Identity Card to Complement Voters Card - Buhari." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 19 Feb. 2015. Emma Ovuakporie. "Over 6m Now Have National Identity Cards - NIMC DG." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. 3 November 2014. "Obasanjo Gets New National Identity Card." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Nigeria - High Commission Ottawa, National Identity Management Commission.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Factiva; International Crisis Group; Keesing's Document Checker; Nigeria - High Commission Ottawa, National Identity Management Commission; United Nations - Refworld.

Attachment

Nigeria. N.d. National Identity Management Commission. "The Nigerian National Identity Policy." [Accessed 30 Sept. 2015]