The Cameroon government has announced that Cameroonians will soon be able to acquire their national identification (ID) cards within just 48 hours. This development is thanks to a new partnership between the General Delegation for National Security and the German company, Augentic.
The agreement, finalised by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, and the Director General of Authentic, Labinot Carreti, on Monday, will curb a longstanding problem of delays in identity card production.
Under the agreement, Augentic will set up biometric production centers in Yaounde, Douala, and Garoua, build and renovate enrollment units in all regional and Divisional headquarters of the country, and operate the project for 15 years before transferring it back to the government.
Augentic Director General, Labinot Carreti, said the first biometric ID cards will be produced by the end of this year.
Labinot Carreti disclosed that the company will build 68 new multi-functional structures to facilitate ID Card production and renovate about 219 existing ID card registration centres in the country.
This initiative comes as a relief to many Cameroonians who have endured long waits and bureaucratic hurdles to obtain their national identification cards.
Citizens have often faced regular queues at police stations and have sometimes waited for years without ever receiving their final ID cards.
The contract, costing the State FCFA 26 billion, signals a commitment to expedite the ID card issuance process.
The new ID Card production measure was first announced by President Paul in 2021, and in October last year, Martin Mbarga Nguele explained that the project was coming to fruition in 2024.
He stated that the number of identification posts would increase from 280 to 543. More than 700 fixed and 300 mobile kits will be installed at identification points, the Delegate General added.
Once implemented, it is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and improve efficiency in obtaining identification documents.
Similar challenges were encountered with passport production, but the government implemented a new system in 2021 that now produces passports within just 48 hours. Augentic also won the contract to produce the passports.
The planned innovation for ID Cards has been met with widespread approval from the public, who see it as a positive step towards addressing long-standing issues with its issuance.
Many citizens also hope the measure will be implemented in time as so they may use their IDs to facilitate various transactions, including banking, travel, and access to social services.
©Mimi Mefo Info – Cameroon government
