Monrovia, – The Liberian government has announced a temporary suspension of the mandatory use of National Identification Cards for banking transactions, alongside a halt in the issuance of new IDs. The decision was disclosed in a press statement released today by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism.
The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the National Identification Registry (NIR) jointly issued a directive instructing all commercial banks to relax enforcement of the National ID card requirement for customers conducting financial transactions. At the same time, the NIR has suspended the issuance of new National Identification Cards with immediate effect, citing administrative reasons. The public will be informed at a later date when mass enrollment for the cards will resume.
Acting Minister Johnny S. Tarkpah, who signed the statement, urged all public service providers to comply with the new measures. However, no further details were provided regarding the specific administrative issues prompting the suspension or how long the relaxed banking rules will remain in effect.
The move raises questions about potential challenges within Liberia’s national identification system, though officials have not clarified whether the suspension stems from technical, logistical, or policy concerns. For now, the temporary easing of ID requirements may provide relief to citizens who have faced difficulties obtaining or using the cards for essential services.
Authorities have assured the public that updates will be communicated through official channels once normal operations resume. Businesses and individuals are advised to stay informed as the situation develops.
