MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Growing frustration is mounting among residents of Mogadishu as hundreds of people report difficulties in obtaining the National Identification and Registration Authority identity cards at the Joint District Center in the Banadir region.
Every day, long queues form outside the center, where citizens have been required by the government to apply for the NIRA national ID cards.
According to residents and witnesses, the process has become slow, disorganized, and marred by allegations of corruption. Applicants report waiting several days — and in some cases, weeks — without receiving their identification cards.
Eyewitnesses and several applicants told Kaab TV that only a small number of people are processed each day. According to multiple sources, some officials allegedly demand illegal payments in exchange for faster service.
Individuals who spoke to our reporters on the condition of anonymity claimed that some applicants are asked to pay $10 (ten US dollars) to expedite their applications.
Those who cannot afford to pay, they say, are often told to return another day or are ignored entirely.
One resident, who waited several days to receive his NIRA ID, stated:
“They told us to come back tomorrow again and again. But when others paid ten dollars, they got their cards quickly. It’s unfair — we are all citizens and should get equal service.”
Many poor applicants have expressed disappointment, saying they were forced to pay intermediaries outside the center just to be allowed entry or to have their paperwork accepted.
Others have given up at the Banadir Joint District headquarters and opted to visit smaller centers in other districts in hopes of receiving fair treatment.
Residents of Jamili District in particular have voiced strong complaints, calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia to take immediate action.
They are urging the ministry to investigate the alleged corruption, hold responsible officials accountable, and improve service delivery at the NIRA offices.
Despite these complaints, community members claim that NIRA officials have not yet taken visible steps to address the issues or to respond to public concerns.
Locals are demanding transparency, accountability, and equal access to the national ID registration system — a process that is essential for accessing public services, voting, and employment opportunities.