NIMC Tasks FG On e-ID

The National Identity
Management Commission (NIMC) has urged the Federal Government to approve  the use of the new national electronic identity card (e-ID) as a valid travel document for Nigerians going outside the country.
In a statement issued  in Abuja on Friday by the Head, Card Management Services of NIMC, Mr. Tunji Durodola said  the new National  e-ID card is a bonafide  Machine  Readable  Travel Document (MRTD) recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
He said that one of the 13  applets imbedded in the JGOP Chip on the ID Card has similar content  usually found in Nigeria’s e-passport and is known as ICAO Applet, stressing that it  could  therefore easily be used as a travel document subject to approval of the international community.
He said for the National e-ID card to be recognised by other countries for cross border travels its usage must be included in a bilateral agreement  among countries that partner with Nigeria and the agreement must be recongised by the countries  immigration and border control agencies  and such countries must have inspection devices that can read the cards which most nations currently have.
Durodola said the  features present  in the current e-ID card  cannot stop it from being deployed for  other travelling purposes by Nigerians as alternative to the international passport.
He called for cooperation among the Aviation Ministry, Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Service to ensure that the e-ID work as alternative international  passport usage  by Nigerians, stressing that the identity management  commission is ever confident that with time, the international community will build confidence in the  authenticity of the card and the inbuilt robust security in the card.