MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued Executive Order No. 147, which mandates the enrollment of all citizens and foreign residents in Liberia’s National Biometric Identification System (NBIS). This new directive requires individuals to obtain and use a national ID card as a primary credential to access both public and private services across the country.
The executive order aims to address long-standing issues of fraud, illegal migration, and impersonation by establishing a secure and efficient system for identity verification. With the creation of the National Identification Registry (NIR), the government intends to strengthen its efforts to provide essential services while promoting rule of law and national development.
The order stresses that the national ID card will serve multiple purposes, including proving citizenship, accessing services such as banking, social security benefits, and education, as well as facilitating interactions with government institutions like the Liberia Electricity Corporation, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, and mobile network operators.
The enrollment process will be administered through the NIR, which is tasked with overseeing the issuance of national IDs and responding to identity queries from both government and private sector entities. Public and private institutions are required to use the NIR database to reduce fraud and improve efficiency in service delivery. The new system is expected to streamline access to services and contribute to the government’s broader goals of enhancing the digital economy and improving public service access.
The President’s order also outlines the governance structure, which includes the NIR’s role in managing the registration process and ensuring that identity queries are addressed effectively through an online platform designed for government agencies and private institutions. Financial charges for the use of the identity query portal and e-verification platform will be set by the NIR’s Board of Registrars.
This move follows the government’s 2024 launch of the Digital Transformation Initiative, which aims to ensure collaboration between ICT systems and enhance Liberia’s digital economy. The mandate for biometric identification is seen as a foundational step towards achieving these digital economy goals, providing a secure and universally recognized method of identification for all residents.
