The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has announced a temporary halt in the processing of new biometric registrations and the assignment of National Identification Numbers (NIN) for citizens and residents aged 12 and above.

This suspension is a result of mandatory maintenance on the Authority’s Biometric Identification and Matching Engine (ABIS), a crucial component of the National Identification Management System (IDMS).

According to the NCRA, the maintenance became necessary due to technical problems caused by frequent and abrupt power outages.

As a result, biometric/fingerprint details essential for new registrations cannot be processed until the ABIS engine is fully restored.

However, the NCRA emphasized that this maintenance only impacts first-time registrants aged 12 and above. Routine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) services, including the issuance of ID cards to those who have already registered, remain unaffected.

Other services still operational include the registration of minors under 12, ID verification, updates to personal information, and certification of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and adoptions.

The NCRA reassured the public that this system update is crucial to ensure the long-term reliability and efficiency of their services.

Once the maintenance is completed, biometric registration for affected individuals will resume, and the public will be promptly informed.

The NCRA reiterated its commitment to delivering uninterrupted civil registration and identity management services across Sierra Leone.

Its offices, centers, and outlets remain open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering essential services to all citizens and non-citizens.