eTranzact introduces Warrant Card for Police Force

As the momentum gathers for the official unveiling of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Cardlex Cash and its Strong Authentication (ESA) tomorrow in Lagos, the eTranzact International Limited, has electronically empowered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with the introduction of its Warrant Card.

Chief executive officer, eTranzact, Mr. Valentine Obi, said that the premier multi-channel payment and switching platform launched this innovation in collaboration with Puzzles group and NPF.

He said the card has been specifically designed to assist the Nigeria Police in its effort to establish a reliable identification programme, rebrand, fight internal fraud, eliminate ghost workers and pensioners as well as make life easier and more convenient for men and women of the Force.

Describing the Police Warrant Card as one of the big dreams of the incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Okiro, the eTranzact boss said that the card, which is a multipurpose card doubles as an identification (ID) card, salary payment card and performs other numerous functions.

“The new card being a multi-functional one tallies with Okiro’s dream of a refocused Nigeria Police,” Obi said.

Addressing the top echelon of the Nigeria Police at Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja last Tuesday, Obi said the new Nigeria Police Warrant Card, though serves as the official identity card, its functions include that of a regular payment card, meaning that a policeman or woman could walk to any ATM and collect cash with its Warrant Card 24/7.

“He or she could also use the card for web transactions such as make payment for goods and services, like booking and paying for an airline ticket electronically with the card,” he said.

In addition, Obi said that the card, which carries the picture of the bearer, comes with specific codes unique to individual policemen or women.

He explained that the card is also distinguished by the different colours associated with the different ranks within the Police Command.

“Like an ATM card, the Warrant Card comes with a static Personal Identification Number (PIN), which is a default number that can be changed to individual’s PIN upon activation for security purposes,” he said.

Obi emphasized that eTranzact is committed to the welfare of every citizen of the country and believes that the Police Force occupies a unique position in the scheme of moving Nigeria forward.

“Hence the development of a multi-functional card to help them access their funds on regular basis without delay from any quarters,” Obi declared and lauded the IGP for making the initiative a reality and for his invaluable input into the development of its security features.

He solicited Okiro’s support in the nationwide verification exercise for all policemen and women, beginning next week, on November 4, which serves as a prerequisite to the issuance of the warrant cards to all men and women of the Force.

Expressing appreciation to eTranzact for the laudable project, IGP Mike Okiro, urged all officers of the Nigeria Police to cooperate with eTranzact and its partner banks to ensure a successful verification and issuance of the warrant card to men and women of the Force.

He stressed that with the new warrant card, salary payment will now be made directly to each policeman’s account. Each police officer will also be alerted via SMS immediately a transaction occurs on his or her account.

Asserting that January 1, 2009 is the effective date by which no Nigerian policeman or woman should parade the old identity card, IGP admonished individual police officers to present himself or herself in person for the verification exercise, as no card will be issued by proxy.

He was confident that by the end of the exercise, eTranzact would have assisted the Police with the data to state categorically the total number of men and women in the Nigeria Police Force.


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