Citizens in South West, Galmudug and Hirshabelle states are being charged to obtain the National Identification Authority (NIRA) card, despite the process being free in Mogadishu, an investigation by Mustaqbal has revealed.
According to findings from Baydhabo, Dhuusamareeb and Jowhar — the administrative capitals of the three federal member states — residents are required to pay $2.5 to access the national ID card.
The investigation uncovered two different practices: in some offices, applicants are asked to pay the fee immediately after submitting their documents, such as proof of birth, residency, or passport; in others, the charge is collected once the ID card is ready for issuance.
Surprisingly, the phone numbers provided for payments are not linked to official government accounts but are instead registered under the names of NIRA offices in those cities, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
In Mogadishu, the national ID card is currently issued free of charge. When the service was first rolled out in the capital, residents were required to pay a fee of $5, but this was later abolished following public complaints.
The revelation is likely to fuel debate about fairness in the rollout of the NIRA system across Somalia, as well as concerns over whether citizens outside the capital are being unfairly burdened with hidden costs.
Mustaqbal
