Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 19, 2025 – The Office of National Security (ONS) and the Sierra Leone Police have jointly issued a strong reminder to all citizens and foreign residents to obtain their biometric National or Non-National Identification Cards before the final deadline of August 31, 2025.
Speaking during a press engagement, the National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker, and the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, warned that a nationwide “stop and check” operation will soon be launched to enforce compliance. Individuals found without valid ID cards risk facing legal consequences.
“We will not compromise on national security and identity verification,” Caulker emphasized. “Anyone without a valid ID card—citizen or foreign resident—will be dealt with according to the law.”
IGP Sellu further stressed that police services such as clearance certificates and character checks will now strictly require the presentation of a valid ID card.
“This is not optional,” he said. “If you do not have a biometric ID, you will not be served.”
The Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, announced that mobile registration units have already been deployed across communities and chiefdoms nationwide to increase access.
He also disclosed that the cost of acquiring the ID cards will rise after August 31 to reflect updated production expenses.
“We are encouraging everyone to take advantage of the current rates and register now,” Massaquoi advised.
The biometric ID card system, which was officially launched by President Julius Maada Bio in January 2023, is designed to enhance national security, improve service delivery, and ensure proper identification of residents.
Possession of a valid biometric ID card is now a mandatory requirement to access various government and financial services across the country.
