National Identity Management Commission biometric system to get a powerful biometric systems upgrade from IDEMIA Smart Identity

IDEMIA Smart Identity (www.IDEMIA.com) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) by implementing an upgrade of the entire biometric identification system. This upgrade will have the capacity to accommodate 250 million records, ensuring that each citizen’s identity in the civil database remains unique. The powerful biometric matching system will be able to handle 1 million 1:1 and 1:N identity verification searches per day

On February 28, 2024, IDEMIA Smart Identity and NIMC agreed to renew their longstanding collaboration and enhance NIMC’s biometric system to become the most advanced in the world. This system will be comparable only to Aadhaar in India. With the ability to handle 1 million 1:1 and 1:N identity verification searches per day, it will be a powerful biometric matching system.

The initial system was designed to support 100 million records but has already reached around 90 million records. Therefore, this upgrade is necessary to cater to the entire Nigerian population. NIMC is already on track to achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals target for 2030, which calls for a legal identity for all.

Furthermore, the system upgrade will enable NIMC to be compliant with OSIA, an open standard set of interfaces (APIs) that facilitate seamless connectivity between all components of the identity management ecosystem.

“We are delighted to continue our longstanding collaboration with NIMC for the betterment of Nigeria’s growing population. The new and robust system is future-proof and will ensure that all Nigerians have access to a secure and trusted identity, enabling them to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Additionally, this contract, in the most populous country in Africa, showcases IDEMIA’s ability to deploy its technologies on a large scale,” explains Olivier Charlanes, Senior Vice President of Middle East and Africa at IDEMIA Smart Identity.

Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and Chairman of the OSIA Advisory Committee, stated that integrating IDEMIA Smart Identity into their system was a logical progression. The goal was to provide Nigerians with a top-notch solution, and the advanced biometric matching capabilities guarantee that the system will remain effective as the population expands.

IDEMIA Group is dedicated to providing simpler and safer solutions for various aspects of daily life, including payment, connectivity, access, identification, travel, and public safety. Through their expertise in biometrics and cryptography, IDEMIA develops cutting-edge technologies with a focus on impact, ethics, and social responsibility. Their solutions secure billions of interactions both in physical and digital realms. IDEMIA Group comprises three leading businesses that offer essential solutions:

1. IDEMIA Secure Transactions specializes in providing secure and convenient payment and connectivity solutions.
2. IDEMIA Public Security is a global leader in biometric solutions for secure travel, access, and protection.
3. IDEMIA Smart Identity harnesses the power of cryptographic and biometric technologies to establish a single trusted identity for all individuals.

With a workforce of nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, IDEMIA Group is a trusted partner for over 600 governmental organizations and more than 2,400 enterprises across 180 countries.

For further details, please visit www.IDEMIA.com and follow @IDEMIAGroup on X.