By Horn Africa News
Residents of Somalia’s South West, Galmudug, and Hir-Shabelle states are being charged fees to obtain the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) card, despite the service being free in the capital, Mogadishu, an investigation by Mustaqbal Media has revealed.
In the administrative capitals of Baidoa (South West), Dhusamareb (Galmudug), and Jowhar (Hir-Shabelle), applicants are required to pay $2.50 when applying for the national ID card.
According to sources, the payments are collected in two ways: in some centers, applicants are asked to pay once their documents such as birth certificates, passports, or residence permits are verified, while in others, the fee is charged only after the card is issued.
The investigation further found that the phone numbers used to receive these payments are not linked to official bank accounts but instead registered under the local NIRA offices in each of the three cities.
In Mogadishu, however, the process is entirely free. When NIRA first launched the service in the capital, residents were initially charged $5, but the government later abolished the fee to ensure universal access.
The discrepancies have sparked concerns over transparency and equal access to official identification across Somalia, as possession of a NIRA card is becoming increasingly necessary for accessing government services, financial systems, and voter registration.
