IDEMIA Smart Identity has announced its commitment to upgrading Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with one of the world’s most powerful biometric identification systems. Supported by the World Bank’s ID4D initiative, this upgrade will enable the system to handle a massive 250 million records, ensuring each citizen’s identity remains unique in the civil database.
The decision to upgrade the biometric system comes after IDEMIA Smart Identity and NIMC renewed their collaboration on February 28, 2024. The revamped system aims to rival the sophistication of India’s Aadhaar system, capable of conducting an impressive 1 million 1:1 and 1:N identity verification searches daily.
Originally designed to accommodate 100 million records, the existing system has already surpassed 90 million entries, necessitating this expansion to encompass Nigeria’s entire population. Remarkably, NIMC’s efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals target for 2030, which advocates for universal legal identity by the end of the decade.
The upgraded system will not only bolster NIMC’s capacity but also ensure compliance with OSIA, an open standard set of interfaces facilitating seamless connectivity across the identity management ecosystem.
Olivier Charlanes, Senior Vice President of Middle East and Africa at IDEMIA Smart Identity, expressed pride in the continued collaboration with NIMC, emphasizing the importance of providing all Nigerians with secure and trusted identities.
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO of NIMC and Chairman of the OSIA Advisory Committee, underscored the significance of this enhancement, emphasizing the solution’s future-proof design to cater to Nigeria’s growing population.
The deployment of this cutting-edge biometric system in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, underscores IDEMIA’s ability to implement technologies on a massive scale, reinforcing its commitment to driving advancements in identity management.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16.9, which aims to provide legal identity for all individuals by 2030.
This development signifies a significant stride towards ensuring the security, integrity, and inclusivity of Nigeria’s national identity management system, setting the stage for enhanced citizen services and governance.
