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| President Goodluck Jonathan used his new e-ID card at an ATM during the launch |
President Jonathan said the e-ID scheme would be the primary database for all government departments
Nigeria launches national electronic ID cards
Nigeria's president has formally launched a national electronic identity card, which all Nigerians will have to have by 2019 if they want to vote.
Goodluck Jonathan received the first biometric card which can also be used to make electronic payments.
MasterCard is providing the prepaid payment element and it hopes millions of Nigerians without bank accounts will now gain access to financial services.
An attempt to introduce national ID cards in Nigeria 10 years ago failed.
Analysts blame corruption for its failure, and say the same problems may stymie the new e-ID scheme.
'Breaks barriers'
"The card is not only a means of certifying your identity, but also a personal database repository and payment card, all in your pocket," President Jonathan said at the launch in the capital, Abuja.
"I have taken keen interest in this project, primarily because of the pervasive impact it can have on every facet of the socio-economic fabric of our dear nation," he said.
According to Nigeria's central bank, about 30% of the country's 167 million inhabitants have access to bank accounts, Bloomberg news agency reports.
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