The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said it would push for the adoption of the new National e-ID Card as a valid travel document that could serve as substitute for the International passport for certain categories of travel.
The new National e-ID Card is a Machine
Readable Travel Document (MRTD) recognised by the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Head, Card Management Services at NIMC,
Mr. Tunji Durodola, told journalists in Lagos that “the back of the NIMC
e-ID Card contains three lines called Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) Lines
just like the Passport and the same as other National Identity Cards
that have ICAO support.”
One of the 13 applets imbedded in the
card has similar content usually found in Nigeria’s e-passport and it is
known as International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Applet, so it
could easily be used as a travel document subject to approval of the
international community.
He said rigorous
testing by global agencies ensured that the contents of the chip met
the standards set by the internationally recognised body.
Mr. Durodola also said the first set of
the cards have SmartCard chip but future generations will be
dual-interface (chip and contactless) for a truly robust solution.
He said for the project to work
properly, NIMC, the federal ministries of aviation, foreign affairs and
the Nigeria Immigration Service must agree on the process.
