Lagos to Launch Smart Lag ID Card

The Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) yesterday announced that all was set for formal launch of the upgraded Lagos State Resident Identity Card (LAG ID Card).

Announcing the launch date, the General Manager, LASRRA, Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu, said the new LAG ID Card would be launched next Wednesday by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Police College, Ikeja GRA.

According to a statement, the launch would happen, simultaneously, across the five divisions of the state: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe.

Kasunmu, added that one of the key highlights of the day would include live demonstration of the smart card, its benefits as well as the unveiling by the governor.

Speaking on the new LAG ID Card, Kasunmu disclosed that the new card was embedded with more features and functionalities to offer the card holders wider and faster access to services provided by the Lagos State government.

“The new LAG ID Card is a multi-application smartcard that offers registered residents access to services ranging from ‘a means of personal security and identity verification’ at points of accessing various government services, to applying for loans from Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF),” she added.

In addition, card holders can also use it as a payment card for services across multiple vendors including buses and ferries; supermarkets, as well as cash withdrawals from banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Kasunmu appealed to residents in the state who have not registered to do so by visiting the website www.lagosresidents.gov.ng.

She noted that once registration is activated online, residents would need to visit any LASRRA Registration Centre nearest to them so their biometrics may be captured to complete the process, adding that registration is absolutely free.

Also, she urged those who registered in or before 2018 and those who have changed their names and/or addresses, to effect changes by validating/updating their records with the same process, after which they would be called upon to pick up the new LAG ID Card.

Kasunmu, stressed that one of the reasons residents with the old cards need to do this was because the upgraded LAG ID was embedded with a multi-applet chip module which stores some of the updated biodata and biometric details of the resident for real-time validation and verification of identity.

She explained that the old identity card was only for identification purposes.

“Holders of the old card need to update their records to obtain the new LAG ID Card with a validity period of 5 years.

“The new card allows flexibility, to onboard more features and expand usability in view of fast-changing technology trends,’’ she stated. 

Kasunmu further said that other advantages of the newly upgraded LAG ID Card included easy access to educational services for children and students at all levels of education, as well as quicker access to healthcare services from the state-owned facilities.

The General Manager emphasised that the LAG ID Card project was pivotal to the Lagos Smart City initiative, for key purposes of planning and distribution of infrastructure, security, social protection, financial inclusion and disaster and emergency response management to mention a few.