The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) was established by the Registration of Persons Act (ROPA), 2015 and is mandated to establish and maintain the National Identification Register (NIR). The Authority is also charged with among other things; the registration of citizens and legally resident aliens; assigning National Identification / Alien Identification Numbers (NINs/AINs) to qualifying persons and issuing Identification Cards to those 16 years and above; registration of births, deaths and adoption orders and issuance of the relevant certificates.