Safran to Upgrade Nigerian Biometric ID Program

“The contract extension comes soon after news that Nigerian authorities were planning to use biometrics in a nationwide census…”

Africa’s most populous country is getting a biometric upgrade from Safran Identity & Security. The company has announced that the National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria (NIMC) has renewed its contract with Safran and is proceeding with an upgrade of its automatic biometric identification system (ABIS).

The ABIS is to be transformed into the Morpho Biometric Search Services, or MorphoBSS, platform. The result will be a system able to manage fingerprint, facial, and iris biometrics, allowing the NIMC to establish a national ID program incorporating biometric identification.

In a statement announcing the contract, Safran Identity & Security CEO Anne Bouverot said her company is “very proud to have been selected” for the project, adding that it “not only helps optimize national identity management in this country but also promotes the development of new governmental services for citizens”.

The contract extension comes soon after news that Nigerian authorities were planning to use biometrics in a nationwide census, and not long after last summer’s announcement that the National Association of Nigerian Students would implement biometric ID cards for its members.

–

April 4, 2017 – by Alex Perala