The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, July 20, unveiled an upgraded smart and multi-purpose resident identification card for a comprehensive database of residents.
Unveiling the smart card in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the upgrade was borne out of the need to embrace change and align with global best practices.
The upgrade was held simultaneously at four other locations -Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe.
Sanwo-Olu said that the initial Lagos State Residents Card was an ordinary plastic card meant only for identification purposes.
He said that the new ”smart”, and ”multi-purpose” card combined biometric identification with other functionalities and benefits that cut across areas such as security, financial services, mobility, and access to government services and amenities.
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According to him, the upgrade of the ID card demonstrates the administration’s commitment to the Smart City vision, which seeks to integrate and embed cutting-edge technology into daily lives and daily interaction with government and public services.
As the nation’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos State experiences significant levels of inbound daily migration of people seeking economic opportunities and a better life.
As a result, our population, currently estimated at over 22 million residents, is rising rapidly, with obvious implications for social services, social infrastructure, and security.
It has therefore become imperative for the state government to re-examine strategies aimed at improving the security of lives and properties of the people of Lagos state.
This ‘Smart’ Resident Card will help address the issues surrounding the identification and traceability of Lagos residents, and ultimately help inform government’s planning and provision of services designed to secure lives and property.
Benefits Of New ID Card
The governor said that the new card would aid financial inclusion, as it came with an electronic ‘wallet’, which could hold funds and be used for daily transactions, supporting the cashless agenda of the monetary authorities.
He further said that the smart card would enable residents to have access to government services such as health insurance, pension administration, and school allocation based on residential addresses and many more social amenities.
Sanwo-Olu said that residents would also access value-added services such as the ability to pay for Lagos state transportation services and toll gate fees.
The governor said that this would be achieved through integration with the COWRY card and collaboration with LCC.
He urged residents to register and acquire the Lagos State Resident Card to enjoy the many benefits on offer.
With the launch of digitised card format, Sanwo-Olu said the state government was targeting to capture 10 million residents on the database before the end of 2022.
The governor also said that new visitors in Lagos who planned to live in the state for more than two consecutive months were now required to register for the residency card.
LASRRA General Manager, Mrs Ibilola Kasunmu, said that the state could not afford to lag behind in the age of global digitalisation, thereby, making the transition to smart residency cards compelling.
Kasunmu said that the agency was motivated by the resolve to contribute to the overall vision of the current administration by finding innovative ways to improve the efficiency of governance and service delivery for the benefit of the people.
