In a major boost to decentralisation and improved access to legal identity services, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has officially opened a National Identification Card production and issuance outlet in Kasongha, Lungi, Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom in Port Loko District.
The new facility was commissioned by the Director General of the NCRA, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi and is expected to serve residents of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, as well as adjoining chiefdoms including Lokomasama, Kamasondo and surrounding communities across Port Loko District.
The establishment of the Lungi outlet forms part of Government’s broader policy drive to decentralize essential public services and reduce the financial and logistical burden faced by citizens who previously had to travel to Freetown or other district centres to obtain their national identity cards.
Addressing traditional leaders, security personnel, youth representatives and community members during the launch ceremony, Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi said the opening of the centre fulfils President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to expand ID services nationwide.
“When this project was launched, His Excellency made it clear that ID services would no longer remain concentrated in Freetown,” Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi stated. “Today, we are delivering on that promise. The people of Lungi and its surrounding communities no longer need to travel long distances or incur unnecessary costs to secure their national ID cards. The service is now closer to them.”
For years, residents of Lungi, home to the Freetown International Airport, were compelled to cross over to Freetown or travel to Port Loko town to process their ID cards. The associated transportation, feeding and sometimes accommodation costs posed significant challenges, particularly for low-income earners, women, youths and the elderly.
Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi noted that the new centre will provide immediate economic relief while improving efficiency in service delivery.
“In the past, citizens bore extra expenses simply to obtain a single document. That inconvenience has now been addressed. Eligible residents can now access services here within the stipulated timeframe,” he assured.
Beyond convenience, the Director General emphasized that expanding access to national ID cards strengthens social inclusion and national development. The national ID card is increasingly required for banking services, passport acquisition, university admission, driver’s licence processing, employment documentation, business registration and other public and private sector transactions.
He reminded residents that obtaining a national ID card is both a right and a civic responsibility.
“Government has created the enabling environment. It is now the responsibility of every eligible citizen and legal resident to register and secure their national identity. Do not wait until you miss critical opportunities due to lack of proper identification,” he urged.
Responding to media inquiries, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi confirmed that the Lungi outlet operates under the same standards, procedures and quality controls as the NCRA head office in Freetown and other regional centres nationwide. He added that any fee adjustments would strictly follow contractual agreements and regulatory guidance.
“We are a compliant institution,” he said. “Any review of fees will align with the agreement between Government and service vendors and will be guided by the Bank of Sierra Leone.”
Local authorities welcomed the development. Acting Chiefdom Speaker of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom and Section Chief, Alhaji Al-Imam Samba Dumbuya II, expressed appreciation to Government and the NCRA leadership for responding to longstanding appeals for an office in Lungi.
“Our Paramount Chief and community stakeholders have long advocated for this service,” he said. “Today marks a significant milestone for our chiefdom. We thank the Government and the NCRA for bringing this essential facility to our people.”
Community members also described the new outlet as a symbol of relief and inclusion, noting that repeated journeys to Freetown or Port Loko had previously caused hardship and delays.
With identity verification playing a crucial role in governance, law enforcement and development planning, the NCRA leadership maintained that expanded registration coverage will enhance the integrity of national records and support national security coordination.
The Authority reiterated that decentralisation remains central to its operational strategy. In addition to establishing permanent offices, the NCRA continues to deploy mobile registration teams to remote communities upon request to ensure broader national coverage.
Under the leadership of Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, the NCRA continues to operationalize Government’s decentralisation agenda, translating policy commitments into accessible public services for communities across Sierra Leone.
