The recent announcement by Liberia’s National Identification Registry (NIR) to extend the national ID registration deadline until August 31, 2025, has done little to ease the growing frustration among citizens. While giving people more time is a step in the right direction, the extension alone does not address the structural failures that have made the process burdensome for many. What Liberia urgently needs is not just more time, but a genuine commitment to accessibility, fairness, and readiness.
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, civil society advocate Anderson D. Miamen posted a sharp critique on his official Facebook page, in response to the NIR’s announcement of the new deadline. While many citizens welcomed the extension, Miamen saw it as a necessary correction to a flawed policy.
“What was the government even thinking to make usage of the national identification card compulsory for bank and other transactions, when it was not fully prepared to deal with the associated demands?” he wrote. Miamen acknowledged the importance of the national ID card but argued that mandating its use without proper infrastructure was ill-advised and premature.
He called for the NIR to receive adequate financial and logistical support in order to decentralize its registration efforts. He emphasized that limiting access to county capitals creates barriers for citizens in rural districts and densely populated areas. To fix this, Miamen recommended the use of trained mobile teams that can travel to underserved communities, making the process more citizen-friendly and efficient.
“This is a great initiative,” he concluded. “Let’s do it right such that everyone is happy to go and obtain their ID card.”
The NIR’s decision to extend the deadline followed a joint investigation by FrontPage Africa and New Narratives, which highlighted citizens’ frustrations with the ID process. Many people reported being denied essential services because they did not possess the required identification. In response, NIR Executive Director Andrew Peters held a press conference to address the growing backlash.
“We have listened to all of the excuses from Liberians that they are caught unaware,” Peters said. “We are giving you a time frame of two months, 15 days, where mass deployment will take place.”
However, concerns remain. In an editorial, Smart News Liberia echoed many of Miamen’s arguments, stating that while the government’s intent to standardize identification for banking and public services is understandable, the implementation had been rushed and poorly designed. Without robust infrastructure in place, especially in rural and remote regions, the policy risks creating even more inequality.
The call to decentralize is not merely a logistical suggestion; it is a demand for fairness. A national identification system, by its nature, should be inclusive and accessible. No Liberian should have to spend days in long queues or travel great distances for something as fundamental as an ID card.
As the new August 31 deadline approaches, the government must act swiftly and decisively. That means ensuring that the NIR is fully equipped with the staff, mobile units, and resources necessary to reach every district and community. A decentralized, well-funded registration system is essential not just for convenience but for credibility and national development.
Recently, President Joseph Boakai issued Executive Order #147, mandating enrollment in the National Biometric Identification System (NBIS) for all citizens and foreign residents as a prerequisite for accessing public and private services. The move is part of a broader effort to improve governance and eliminate corruption. Last year, the Civil Service Agency and the NIR signed a Memorandum of Understanding to use the system to clean the national payroll. That initiative saved the Liberian government approximately US$2.5 million.
Other African nations offer compelling examples of how well-executed national ID systems can produce significant savings and efficiency. Uganda saved an estimated US$7 million in a single year by verifying civil servant identities using its national database. Malawi saved US$44 million by merging its voter registration and national ID systems.
Liberia has the right vision, but execution matters. If the NIR is empowered to take its services closer to the people, this national ID effort could be one of the country’s most transformative initiatives. But without serious decentralization, transparency, and support, it risks becoming just another good idea gone bad.
