Tanzanian calls on owners of 2,027,103 national identity cards to collect them at NIDA offices

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian  government has urged citizens whose national identity cards are ready at the offices of the National Identification Authority (NIDA) to collect them, noting that 2,027,103 identity cards have yet to be collected by their owners.

Minister for Home Affairs, Patrobas Katambi, said the figure represents identity cards produced after citizens completed the registration process.

Katambi said a total of 27,520,835 people have so far been registered, with 23,515,667 issued with identification numbers, while 21,526,635 national identity cards have been produced.

He said the failure by citizens to collect their identity cards was a matter that required attention given the importance of national identification in various areas, particularly security and public safety.

“We are concerned by the number of 2,027,103 people who have not collected their identity cards, given the importance of the NIDA identity card,” Katambi said.

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He said effective identification of citizens plays an important role in strengthening security, as identity cards can help authorities establish the identities of people in different locations and facilitate follow-up when necessary.

According to the minister, national identity cards are also important when people travel or check into accommodation facilities, as they facilitate identification and enable authorities to conduct necessary follow-up in security-related matters.

He said national identity cards, including those issued by NIDA, have become an important component of Tanzania’s national identification system, helping to establish people’s identities, prevent crime and improve various national planning processes that require accurate information on the population and citizens’ identities.

The government has continued to urge citizens to complete the registration process and collect their identity cards once they are ready, enabling them to access services that require proof of identity while strengthening the country’s national identification systems.