On 24th October, 2024, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) officially announced the restoration of the National Automated Biometrics Identification System (ABIS) services. In a press release issued, the NCRA confirmed that the critical biometric identification services, which have been instrumental in the management of civil registration and national identity verification, are now fully operational.
The restoration of ABIS marks a significant milestone for the authority and the nation as a whole. ABIS plays a pivotal role in enhancing national security, facilitating accurate and secure identity verification, and ensuring efficient service delivery across various sectors, including immigration, law enforcement, social services, and electoral processes.
The National Automated Biometrics Identification System had previously experienced technical challenges, which led to a temporary disruption of services. These challenges affected the registration and verification processes of citizens and residents, causing delays in the issuance of national identification cards and other critical services dependent on biometric data.
During the downtime, the NCRA worked in collaboration with local and international partners to identify the issues and implement necessary upgrades. The restoration of services now ensures that the system is more robust, secure, and capable of handling the increasing demand for biometric identification across the country.
With ABIS now back in operation, citizens can once again access seamless biometric services. This will enable more efficient processing of birth and death registrations, national ID card issuance, and passport applications. Moreover, the restored system will improve the integrity of national records, reduce instances of identity fraud, and enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls.
NCRA Director General, Mohamed Massaquoi, expressed his satisfaction with the restoration, stating, “The successful restoration of the ABIS services is a testament to our commitment to providing reliable and secure civil registration services. This system is vital to the country’s socio-economic development, and we are confident that the enhanced security features and improved functionality will better serve the people of Sierra Leone.”
The NCRA encourages all citizens and residents to visit designated registration centers to update their biometric data where necessary, and ensure that their national identification records are up to date. In the coming weeks, the authority will roll out additional awareness campaigns to inform the public about the enhanced features of the system and how to access its services.
The restoration of ABIS is expected to positively impact various government and private sector services that rely on accurate and secure identification systems, from banking to social welfare programs. The system’s revival is seen as a critical step toward ensuring that Sierra Leone continues to modernize its civil registration infrastructure, in line with international standards.
See attached press release for full detail:
