Cameroon National Identity Card Production process decentralised to Local Council

By Washira Helene

The Minister of Decentralization, George Elanga Obam has made public a release decentralizing, the identification process in Cameroon. The process which allows for the acquisition of a National Identity Card (NIC) has before now been an exclusive preserve of the National Security services.

The move is part of a broader effort to decentralize government services and make them more accessible to citizens.

Under the new system, citizens will be able to apply for identity cards at any of the 360 municipal councils in Cameroon. The application process will be simplified and will no longer require citizens to travel to regional headquarters or the capital, Yaounde.

The transfer of identity card production to the councils is expected to make it easier for citizens to obtain the identification document. It is also expected to reduce the cost of producing identity cards and improve the quality of service delivery.

According to the Minister, the new system will be implemented as soon as possible before 2023 runs out

However, many Cameroonians are skeptical about this new system which according to them might be one of the so many untouched projects of the government.