Police engages giant move to produce ID card within 48hrs.

Speaking to the press after putting pen on paper, Labinot Carreti said his company will invest 40,0000,000 Euros (over 26 billion FCFA) to deploy modern technology nationwide to boost the production of identification documents.

Labinot Carreti said work will begin today in line with the Build Operation Transfer, BOT, nature of the agreement with DGSN. 

He disclosed that: “The value of the first phase of the investment is around 40 million euros (over 26 billion FCFA)”.

The AUGENTIC boss said the second phase of the investment, worth around 30 million euros (over 19 billion FCFA), will renew the entire system before it is transferred to DGSN”. The BOT deal, he said, will last 15 years.

He also explained that AUGENTIC will construct 68 ultramodern production centres and 58 others in all divisional headquarters of the country. 

Labinot Carreti also talked of the renovation of 219 production posts across the country. 

He assured that by the end of the year, things must have changed in terms of Cameroonians and other persons resident in the country, and  who will be establishing vital identification documents.

The Chief Executive Officer of AUGENTIC also stressed that the new system will dematerialise the entire process. 

He said rendezvous will be taken based on an online system for the production of identification documents through the various production centres.

“It consists of deploying huge investments across Cameroon. There will be the construction of 68 modern centres for applications, three centres for the production in Yaounde, Douala and Garoua and the putting in place of an online pre-application system for citizens and enough technology for citizens to apply within days for new IDs cards,” the AUGENTIC boss stated.

What will happen to unprocessed ID cards?

Quizzed on what will become of National Identity Card applications that have not been processed, Labinot Carreti said a deadline will be discussed with officials of the DGNS. 

Based on such discussions, he indicated that officials of the General Delegation for National Security will be allowed to handle such files within the transition period.

BOT, start of project

Thanks to the deal, the private firm will modernise the country’s identification system. AUGENTIC will assume the function through a Build Operate Transfer, BOT system.

The partnership contract empowers the private firm to finance, design, develop, commission and operate the new identification system of the country as authorised by the Head of State.

The firm will produce modern National Identity Cards, Resident Permits, Refugee Cards, Professional Police Cards and National Disability Cards.

Police officials said the private consortium, AUGENTIC, was selected through a restricted International Call for Tenders. 

It was also disclosed that the tender was launched on December 22, 2021, with the authorisation of President Paul Biya. 

An inter-ministerial Committee is said to have settled on the choice of AUGENTIC.

The company will also do same in Divisions while renovating and developing the existing identification posts, including those in Councils that have prepared space for the exercise.

Yesterday's deal comes in line with an announcement which the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, made on September 29, 2023, in Douala. 

This was while inaugurating the Douala Annex Passport Enrollment Centre.