NIR, NEC Sign MoU To Strengthen National ID Enrollment Capacity

In a significant step toward strengthening Liberia’s civil registration and identification system, the National Identification Registry (NIR) and the National Elections Commission (NEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the official transfer of 500 biometric enrollment kits from NEC to NIR. The agreement, signed earlier this week, was formally announced during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Speaking to reporters, the Executive Director of the National Identification Registry, Hon. Andrew Peters, hailed the transfer as a critical boost to the NIR’s capacity to carry out mass biometric enrollment across the country. “We are grateful to the National Elections Commission for this timely donation. These 500 biometric enrollment kits will significantly enhance our operational capacity,” said Hon. Peters. “With the addition of these kits, we can accelerate the pace of national enrollment and bring identification services closer to all Liberians, especially in remote and underserved areas.” The NEC’s donation comes as part of broader efforts to support national development goals through improved inter-agency collaboration. The biometric kits originally used for voter registration will now be repurposed to support the NIR’s mandate of issuing secure and verifiable national ID cards to all Liberians. Hon. Peters noted, however, that while the donation of the hardware is a substantial financial relief to the Government of Liberia (GoL), the kits will require technical modification before integration into the NIR’s existing system. “What is now required is the procurement of essential components, including updated licenses and compatible software modules, to ensure full functionality of the devices within our infrastructure,” he explained. “This process will involve some cost, but it is still a major saving for government and a leap forward for our digital ID ecosystem.” The NIR is actively working with partners and stakeholders to secure the necessary funding and technical support to refurbish and deploy the kits for public use in the coming months. This partnership underscores the importance of institutional collaboration in enhancing service delivery, national security, and governance. Once operational, the upgraded kits are expected to dramatically increase the number of enrollment centers and reduce wait times for Liberians seeking to obtain their National Identification Numbers (NINs). The MoU represents a shared commitment by both institutions to support national priorities, including digital transformation, inclusive governance, and credible data for development planning.