DAR ES SALAAM: THE National Identification Authority (NIDA) has announced that, from next month, it will suspend the use of National Identification Numbers (NINs) for individuals who were notified by SMS to collect their national ID cards but have not done so.
The move follows NIDA’s growing concern over the slow pace of ID collection, despite extensive efforts to notify and encourage citizens to retrieve their cards.
Speaking at a press conference held at NIDA’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, NIDA Director General James Kaji recalled that the Authority launched a nationwide ID collection campaign in January, whereas by March 23, this year a total of 1,880,608 citizens— representing 157 per cent of those who had yet to collect their IDs had been sent SMS notifications.
However, he said, only 565,876 individuals, or about 30 per cent of those contacted, responded and collected their IDs.
“Considering we have already sent SMS notifications to nearly all individuals whose ID cards were submitted by local authorities—villages, streets, hamlets, wards and shehias— and in accordance with our earlier notice regarding the suspension of NIN usage for those who fail to collect their IDs without valid justification, I hereby announce that, from 1st May this year, we will suspend the use of NINs for such individuals until they collect their national ID cards,” Mr Kaji stated.
He emphasised that NIDA had exhausted all available channels to inform and motivate the public to collect their IDs.
“Despite our efforts, the response has remained disappointing. A key challenge is that many individuals continue to access services using their NINs, as though they already hold the physical cards. This discourages them from collecting their actual IDs,” he said.
Mr Kaji stressed that anyone whose NIN is suspended will not be able to access any services using that number.
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“They will only regain access once they have collected their ID. Please note that if you have not received an SMS notification, your NIN will not be suspended,” he clarified.
He further urged citizens who registered long ago and have a NIN but haven’t received a collection notification to visit the NIDA district offices where they registered to check if their IDs are ready for pickup.
“It is both our responsibility and that of the government to ensure every printed ID is collected by its rightful owner—especially given the significant cost involved in producing these cards,” he added.
In addition, Mr Kaji announced that NIDA has initiated a registration and identification programme targeting individuals under the age of 18, aimed at providing them with a “Jamii Number.”
This initiative is part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to ensure that every person residing in Tanzania is identified with a unique national identification number.
The pilot programme will roll out in three areas Kusini Unguja, Kilolo in Iringa and Rungwe in Mbeya. A total of 235,826 minors are expected to be registered within two months.
Mr Kaji also noted NIDA’s continued efforts to integrate its system with other institutions in line with the president’s directive to streamline public and private services.
“To date, we have integrated with 128 institutions—57 public and 71 private institutions. Our target is to reach 200 institutions by December this year,” he said
