Ondo State in Nigeria has spent NGN950 million (US$6 million) to deploy a smartcard for the Welfare Services Management named Kaaddi Igbe-Ayo.
Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo State, revealed this to dispel rumours the state had spent up to NGN20 billion (US$126 million) for the same project.
He also stated that the deployment was one of the most cost effective placement of the smartcard in the world, since it cost the state only N280 million (US$1.7 million), reported This Day.
“Even though no state or provincial government in the world has successfully deployed a multi-purpose smartcard for managing services, the Kaadi Igbe-Ayo is designed and has been tested to overcome problems that arose from the failures of previous governments’ attempt at deploying large volumes of smartcards for public services management,” Mimiko said.
About 90 modules including medical information, medical results and antenatal treatment information are available on the card.
Others are wealth creation and empowerment programmes collections, scholarship collections, hospital management, and tax payment records.
The smartcard has also enabled users and service providers get accurate information on a timely basis. Mimiko said the system would help curb unwarranted greed and hoarding.
Smartcard usage in Africa has seen the continent deal with issues from transport system in Kenya to curbing crime in South Africa.
