By: Dawda M. Jallow
President Adama Barrow on Tuesday launched The Gambia’s National Identity Management System (NIMS), describing it as a major reform aimed at strengthening governance, public service delivery, security and economic inclusion.
President Barrow said he became the first Gambian to be enrolled in the system following its go-live date on Monday, 29 June 2026, after his biometric and demographic data, including iris, portrait and fingerprints, were captured and verified.
He said he received his personalised national identity card within minutes, describing the development as a milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The launch ceremony was held at the SDKJ International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
“We are here today to launch a system that will provide every Gambian with a secure, trusted and verifiable identity,” President Barrow said.
The system is being implemented through a public-private partnership between the Government of The Gambia, represented by the Ministry of Interior, and Margins ID Systems Applications Ltd.
President Barrow said digital identity systems have become essential tools for modern governance, financial inclusion, border management, public service delivery and national security.
He noted that the previous identity system was affected by delays in issuing identity cards, stalled renewals and difficulties in verifying personal information, while government institutions operated fragmented records that led to duplication and inefficiencies.
According to the President, the new system will establish a unified National Identity Register that assigns a unique identity to each citizen, reducing errors, duplication and administrative bottlenecks.
He said identity management is a fundamental responsibility of the state and a prerequisite for effective planning and service delivery.
Under the system, Gambians aged 18 years and above will be able to register and receive a dual-interface biometric ECOWAS National Identity Card.
The card, valid for 10 years, incorporates secure embedded chip technology and Public Key Infrastructure and complies with ECOWAS and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
President Barrow highlighted the instant issuance of identity cards as a key feature of the system, noting that enrolment and card production are completed in a single visit, while real-time verification is expected to reduce duplication, impersonation and fraud.
He assured citizens that all data collected under the system belongs to the Government and people of The Gambia and will be protected under national laws.
He added that while the private partner will support implementation and operation of the infrastructure, full control will eventually be transferred to the state.
President Barrow said the NIMS platform will support future e-government services and will be integrated with civil registration, health and other government systems.
He urged Gambians aged 18 years and above to register at the nearest centres and called on community leaders, religious leaders, youth groups and civil society organisations to support the nationwide rollout.
The President commended the Ministry of Interior, participating institutions and Margins ID Systems Applications Ltd for their role in delivering the project.
He said the successful deployment of the system demonstrates the government’s commitment to digital innovation, economic development and improved public service delivery.
Earlier, Director General of the Gambia Information and Communication Technology Agency (GICTA), Prof. Abdoul Karim Jallow, said the system lays the foundation for a new era of digital government.
He said previous identity systems were fragmented across institutions, forcing citizens to repeatedly submit the same information to access services.
“This created duplication, fragmented identity records, delays in service delivery and inefficiencies across government,” he said.
Prof. Jallow said the new system introduces a secure biometric identity that enables government institutions to identify, authenticate and verify individuals electronically across multiple services.