Claim: “Anyone who refuses to update their SIM card using National Identification ID and LTA six months from now will be blocked with immediate effect.”
Source: Shine Liberia
Verdict: True, LTA urged residents of Liberia to register their SIM cards using the National Identification Card.
Full Text: Shine Liberia, an online platform on October 8, 2024, claimed that the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has said individuals who refuse to update their SIM card using the National Identification ID as per the instruction will be blocked with immediate effect.
This post attracted 149 reactions, 138 comments, and 3 shares as of the time of the check.
The National Identification Registry is an autonomous agency created by an Act of Legislature in 2011. It has the responsibility to design, produce, and issue biometric cards with a unique identifying number to be a social security number to cultivate double dipping, illegal migration, and other frauds that are undermining the efforts of the Liberian Government.
On the other hand, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) is an independent commission of government established by the Telecommunications Act 2007 and clothed with the authority to regulate all telecommunications sectors of Liberia.
According to Daniel Sargbe, Public Relations Officer at NIR, the first time the NIR introduced the national identification card was in 1987.
He added that in 2017, citizens applied for and were granted biometric identification cards, adding that over the years, 800,000 citizens have obtained their national ID.
At the moment, the biometric identification card is one of the acceptable cards used at banking institutions and for other transactional purposes next to the passport and voter registration card.
Verification: To verify the claim, we visited the official Facebook page of LTA. The information published on October 8, 2024, stated that LTA and NIR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate free National ID registration to update SIM and RUM card information for all residents of Liberia, enhancing the efficiency of public services, security measures, and law enforcement capabilities.
“Under the LTA regulation, all SIM card owners must register their SIM cards with their Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) using their unique NIR-issued ID card; failure to do so within the next six months will result in the deactivation of unregistered numbers,” LTA stated.
Conclusion: Based on the information gathered, Shine Liberia’s claim is true. LTA urged residents in Liberia to register their SIM cards using the National Identification Card.
