The government is at the verge of resuscitating the issuance of the National Biometric Identification System (NBIS–the National ID Card), and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has named his National Security Advisor, Atty. Samuel Koffi Woods, to lead the initiative.
Atty. Woods, according to a presidential memo dated July 5, will chair the steering committee overseeing the implementation of the system, which is scheduled to be rolled out on April 13, 2026.
The steering committee includes members from various government agencies and organizations such as the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Post and Telecommunications, Liberia Telecommunications Authority, National Identification Registry (NIR), Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), National Elections Commission (NEC), Senior Economic Advisor, and the office of the Presidential Delivery Unit.
The committee’s main objectives, the Memo indicates, are to develop and execute the biometric ID system to enhance national security, facilitate access to government services, and promote economic development with a secure and efficient identity verification platform. The system will utilize biometric technology with offline verification capabilities.
The appointed leadership structure follows delays in the rollout of Executive Order No. 147, which President Boakai signed on April 14, 2025. The executive order made it mandatory for all Liberian citizens and foreign residents living in the country for 90 days or more to register for a biometric national ID or a foreign ID card.
These IDs are required to access services such as banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and immigration.
On June 16, 2025, the government extended the initial registration deadline from August 1 to August 31, 2025. National Identification Registry Executive Director Andrew Peters said the extension responded to high turnout and processing delays.
“The extension is to accommodate the large number of citizens complying with the government’s mandate,” Peters said. “We are now recruiting young Liberians as contractors to work across all 15 counties.”
However, last month, the government announced the suspension of National Identification Card issuance and the enforcement of Executive Order No. 147, which mandated the use of biometric IDs for accessing public and financial services.
The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the National Identification Registry (NIR), cited administrative concerns as the reason for this decision in a statement released last month.
“The issuance of the National Identification Cards is hereby suspended with immediate effect for administrative reasons,” MICAT said in the statement, instructing all public social service providers to comply accordingly.
This decision came in light of public dissatisfaction with technical delays, long queues, and reports of irregularities at registration centers.
MICAT stated in the announcement that the issuance of National Identification Cards is suspended with immediate effect for administrative reasons, directing all public social service providers to adhere to this directive.
The suspension also impacts the enforcement of Executive Order 147, issued by President Boakai in April 2025, which mandatorily required the use of the National ID Card for various services like opening bank accounts, SIM card registration, and accessing public benefits. Consequently, commercial banks, mobile operators, and government service providers were instructed to relax these requirements and accept alternative forms of identification.
The decision is a result of operational challenges, including long waiting times, technical issues, and allegations of misconduct at registration centers, especially in rural and remote areas where accessibility and clear communication have been major concerns.
Amidst growing public discontent and calls for government action from lawmakers and civil society organizations, the administration responded by halting the process and relaxing the associated requirements.
Lawmakers have raised concerns about the financial burden the US$5 ID card fee places on low-income citizens and emphasized the need for a fair and efficient implementation of the program. This directive is seen as a response to the mounting pressure from within the government and the general public.
The quality of the cards, especially as it relates to security features, were heavily criticized.
But Peters emphasized that the features of the ID cards were secondary to the accuracy and reliability of the data they contain. “The features of the cards are not what matters most—it’s the verifiable and authentic information the card contains,” he said.
Addressing reports of fraudulent cards, Peters warned the public that duplicated cards issued outside official channels would not be valid. “Those individuals involved are wasting their time,” he said. “Those duplicated cards cannot be used anywhere for transactions.”
To strengthen system integrity, the NIR is deploying secure APIs that allow authorized institutions to verify data in real time through a national e-verification platform. Peters said financial institutions are now fully integrated with the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification system.
The government’s long-term plan includes expanding the national registry to cover all foreign nationals residing in Liberia by 2028. Peters noted that individuals from countries such as Ghana and the United States would be included.
“You will want him [President Boakai] to break it down into their ages—this president will do it,” he said.
President Boakai’s biometric ID initiative is part of a digital transformation campaign launched in May 2024. The program is managed under the National Identification Registry Act of 2011 and is subject to Liberia’s data protection and privacy laws.
All government ministries, agencies, commissions, and private sector institutions are directed to enforce compliance with Executive Order No. 147. Oversight is being coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Liberia Revenue Authority, with the NIR serving as the lead implementing body.
With the appointment of the steering committee and the new April 2026 target, the government is seeking to address previous logistical issues and ensure the full implementation of the biometric ID system.
