A committee of the Sudanese government issuing nationality numbers in Lagawa Locality in West Kordofan State has gotten into a dispute with local residents over a decision to impose a fee of ten Sudanese pounds per citizen to process the nationality cards.

The ID cards were allegedly issued free of charge in the neighbouring localities, according to local sources. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, citizens expressed discontent about the 10 SDG fee which is imposed on each person in the locality to acquire a national ID number.

Lagawa citizens have raised a complaint on the matter to the locality commissioner, but the commissioner turned the complaint down, saying the fee of 10 SDG was for expenses of the committee.

“The citizens still request the local authorities to intervene and allow the citizens to process the national number for free like what is happening in the other localities,” a local resident said.

For its part, the National Number Committee maintained it would continue with its policy in the area despite the complaints by the locals.