By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Cognizance must be taken that the deadline for obtaining the Biometric ID Cards is the end of this month, the 31st. It could be recalled that through a previous Public Notice, the general public was informed that NCRA, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Office of National Security (ONS) will embark on robustly implementing a Cabinet Directive Ratified by Parliament in March, 2022 which provides for the mandatory link of the Identification Cards (National, Non-National and ECOWAS) with the National Identification Number (NIN) inscribed on the ID Cards to access services that includes: Transactions with Financial Institutions (Banks, Forex Bureau, Insurance, etc), Vehicle Registration and Licensing, Recruitment into Public and Private Institutions for consistency in personal information and verification, NASSIT Enrolment, Land and Property Registration, Enrolment into Educational Institutions including Public Exams, Sim Card Registration, Vital Events Registration, Immigration Services, Residence/Work Permits, Business Registration and Incorporation.
Emphasis was placed on the need for the general public is hereby advised to obtain any of the Identification Cards as may be applicable from any of the NCRA Offices or other Centres designated for issuance of ID Cards across the country by Friday, 31s March, 2024.
Worthy of note is that the National and Non-National ID Cards are mandatory while ECOWAS ID Card and that NCRA, the Security Sector will jointly collaborate to enforce compliance with the Cabinet Directive and its Parliamentary Ratification effective 1s April, 2024.
The rationale behind the move is to ensure that all residents (citizens and foreign) are reliably identified and have consistency in their personal information irrespective of the use or purpose.
Of significance is that the Identification Cards bearing the National Identification Numbers (NIN) are by law the primary sources of personal identification in Sierra Leone. In that regard every resident in Sierra Leone must have a National Identity Card as it not only helps in identifying individuals accurately but also plays a vital role in maintaining national security.
It is also an acceptable fact that having a standardized form of identification will greatly assist law enforcement personnel  in carrying out their duties effectively and efficiently.
Residents are therefore urged to obtain their National Identity Cards as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute rush. Various registration centres were set up across the country to facilitate the process.
Designated centers and six specific offices that are opened throughout the country in locations that are easily-accessible, as part of efforts to facilitate the ID registration process are:
- NCRA Headquarters: 2 Walpole Street, Freetown.
NCRA Office: 23B Off Kingharman Road, Freetown.
3. NCRA Office: Kennedy Street, Freetown.
4. NCRA Branch Office: 230 Lumley Road, Freetown (By the Round- About).
5. NCRA Office: Waterloo along the Freetown High Way (Opposite the Police Station).
6. NCRA Offices: Regional Headquarter Towns of Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Port Loko.
It must be mentioned again that the NCRA has introduced specialized corporate services designed for organizations and institutions. For detailed information on these services, interested parties can reach out to the following contact numbers: +232-33-433-333, +232-30-500-000, +232-60-000, +232-78-221-812, or via email at idverification@ncra.gov
Mobile registration units are also deployed to remote areas to ensure that every resident, no matter where they are located, has access to this essential form of identification.
Through embracing the ID Cards, Sierra Leoneans are paving the way for a more connected, transparent, and prosperous nation.
