President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu met with the North Ari Atoll Council on Sunday afternoon to discuss the region’s development priorities. The meeting, held at the Council Secretariat, focused on addressing the atoll’s needs and strengthening its governance structure.

Council members requested the establishment of Passport and National Identity Card services within the atoll, as well as the inclusion of lagoons under the Council’s jurisdiction to allow for greater economic opportunities. They also discussed ways to enhance the decentralization of governance to ensure more localized decision-making.

In response, President Dr. Muizzu assured the council that the atoll’s concerns would be addressed. He emphasized that the ongoing airport development project for the atoll would be a critical step toward improving its infrastructure. The President also pledged that all atolls would have access to Passport and National Identity Card services in the coming year.

Furthermore, President Dr. Muizzu reiterated his commitment to decentralizing governance by allocating a portion of tourism tax revenues to local councils. He stated that this would increase the financial independence of councils, enabling them to better support economic growth and community development.