HID Global to deploy mobile IDs on citizens’ smartphones in Nigeria

HID Global has partnered with Media Concepts of Lagos, Nigeria to deploy mobile IDs on Nigerian citizens’ smartphones using the new HID goID platform.

Mobile IDs will be issued through the Nigerian Police Biometric Central Motor Registry (BCMR) vehicle registration card program, which provides real-time access to vehicle/vehicle owner information via credentials and mobile readers powered by Seos. The BCMR card program is moving from pilot phase to full implementation with the expectation to register all motor vehicles as the project rolls out nationwide.

“Our vision is to create a safer Nigeria for both citizens and police. This project equips our police officers with the information they need, enabling them to do their job more effectively,” said Femi Agoro, Director, Media Concepts. “Working together with HID Global, we are proud to be bringing such innovative new mobile technologies to the people of Nigeria.”

“Smartphone adoption among Nigeria’s 170 million citizens is growing exponentially,” said Rob Haslam, Vice President and Managing Director, Government ID Solutions with HID Global. “Offering citizens the option to carry a mobile ID on a smartphone to easily and conveniently prove vehicle ownership is a natural next step in the wider shift to government-issued mobile IDs for vehicle registration and beyond.”

Citizens can apply for a mobile ID at the time of vehicle registration and once registration is complete, issuance of the mobile ID to a citizen’s smartphone is almost instant. Nigerian police will be issued smartphones as mobile readers to verify a vehicle owner’s ID and to gain real-time access to accident, crime or insurance information on the vehicle.

The new BCMR mobile IDs use the HID goID platform. Rapid issuance enables the citizen to take instant possession of their vehicle registration and multiple IDs can be carried together on one smartphone. HID Global and Media Concepts designed the program so that this new offering would be integrated directly into Nigeria’s current enrollment process, allowing a seamless migration to mobile IDs.

According to the company, the goID platform enables instant over-the-air credential provisioning and streamlined access to cloud-based government information services. All transactions are conducted in a closed-circuit environment protected by end-to-end encryption. In addition, the goID platform has been designed so that even in areas of restricted or no network coverage, the police officer can still verify the identity of the owner and vehicle offline. It also ensures privacy protection by enabling users to present credentials with a Bluetooth or NFC connection rather than physically relinquishing their smartphones.

Last month, Security Products Magazine selected the HID goID platform for mobile IDs as a winner of the 2016 Govies Award honoring outstanding government security products.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  credentials  |  eID  |  HID Global  |  identity verification  |  law enforcement  |  mobile identity credentialing  |  Nigeria  |  smartphones  |  vehicle registration