The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the National Identification Registry (NIR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance national security and secure digital identity through biometric registration. This collaborative initiative aims to modernise Liberia’s digital infrastructure and ensure every mobile user is verified through a government-issued identification.
A key aspect of this partnership is the focus on SIM card registration, with the goal of registering 3.5 million Liberians. Mobile subscribers are required to use valid, government-issued IDs to register their SIM cards by July 10, 2025. Failure to do so will result in service deactivation. The entire registration process is slated to be completed by the end of 2026.
During the announcement, Abdullah L. Kamara, Acting Chairperson of the LTA, emphasised that achieving a complete digital transformation is impossible without a robust database. This database will protect subscribers from identity theft and other cybercrimes by securing digital platforms.
As part of the effort, the NIR has already set up registration centers across every district and several townships in Liberia. The centralised NIR database can store over 7 million entries, providing ample capacity to handle the expected SIM card registrations.
According to LTA regulations, all SIM card holders must register with their respective Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) using unique NIR-issued ID cards. Non-compliance within six months will lead to SIM card deactivation. In addition to issuing IDs, the NIR will manage the verification platform, while the LTA will oversee the registration compliance process through regular evaluations.
This is not the first time Liberia has attempted to improve its SIM card registration system. A similar initiative in 2020 reportedly failed due to low enrollment in the NIR database and technical challenges. However, this renewed effort, backed by the MOU between LTA and NIR, is designed to overcome these past hurdles and achieve widespread participation through free registration and verification in its initial phase.
