Nigeria calls for ID card Expression of Interest

The Nigerian government has called for smart card firms to indicate their interest in collaborating with it in the provision, production and distribution of a new General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC).

According to documents issued by the government, the GMPC will use chip-based technology to integrate various government ID applications on one card. The initiative will be based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model comprising smart card solution providers, financial institutions and a proposed Government Identity Management Agency.

The primary purposes of the initiative are to improve on the existing National Identity Card, to enhance the effectiveness of authenticating and verifying the identity of Nigerian citizens, and to promote consumer credit systems.

Initially, the assignment period will be limited to five years.

The selected vendor will be required to carry out a range of work including:

• Conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) of the impact of the proposed initiative on personal information;
• Review the identity verification and authentication processes of existing government agencies;
• Design and develop standard specifications of software solutions to meet the federal government’s immediate needs of a unified and verifiable identity database to promote a consumer credit system;
• Design, produce and implement secure chip-based multi-purpose cards with secure electronic authentication and verification processes;
• Develop an electronic biometric system, which links cardholders’ unique identifier (number);
• Design, deploy and maintain ICT infrastructure and connectivity for the legacy systems;
• Design, deploy and maintain a central data centre for the entire identity authentication system;
• Ensure interoperability requirements between cards and card readers, cards and applications, vendors and government agencies, and between government agencies.

The deadline for expressing an interest is 4pm, 7 September 2006.