Bauchi Governor Mohammed Suspends Business ID Card Issuance.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has ordered the immediate halt to the production and distribution of Unified Business Identification Cards throughout the state.

The announcement was released by Babayo Liman, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security, and was made available to journalists in Bauchi on Friday.

Liman said the decision follows reports that some individuals were forging the cards and using them to extort money from traders and business owners.

He explained that the Unified Business Identification Card was originally introduced by the state government to enhance internal security and to better identify business operators across Bauchi.

Investigations, however, uncovered that fraudsters were collecting about N3,000 from traders while falsely claiming to act on behalf of the state government and the Department of Internal Security.

“In response, the state governor has approved an immediate suspension of the production and issuance of the ID cards pending a full review and investigation,” the statement read.

Liman added that the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs will now oversee the process to ensure proper monitoring and accountability.

He also urged the public to report anyone involved in such extortion, warning that those who do so will be arrested and prosecuted.