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The Nigerian Government has officially launched the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as part of efforts to deepen regional integration, improve identity management and strengthen security across West Africa.
The card was unveiled on Friday in Abuja at a ceremony themed “ENBIC: Enhancing Regional Integration and Security.” Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the programme reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to efficient border management and tighter regional security cooperation.
According to the minister, the biometric card will provide a reliable system of identification across borders, which is critical in tackling insecurity and irregular migration. He explained that the project, which began more than a decade ago, has now been fully implemented under the current administration. Nigeria is the seventh country in ECOWAS to roll out the system, a development he described as a major milestone in migration management within the region.
ENBIC was adopted by ECOWAS leaders in 2014 to replace the handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate. Senegal became the first country to issue the card in October 2016, while others such as Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone have since followed. With Nigeria’s launch, seven of the 15 ECOWAS member states are now participating in the programme.
The card is designed to serve as a regional identity document, travel document and residence permit for ECOWAS citizens. It carries an embedded electronic chip that stores both biometric and personal information, including fingerprints and date of birth, enabling more secure verification, reducing identity fraud and simplifying cross-border travel.
Tunji-Ojo noted that the new system would encourage legal migration within the bloc, reduce illegal movements and improve security coordination among member states. He added that the government plans to integrate the card into the Public Key Directory of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which will allow seamless authentication at entry points across the region.
He also revealed that the card would ease pressure on the Nigerian passport system, as citizens travelling within ECOWAS would no longer require international passports. This, he said, would support regional trade and help small business owners and traders move more freely.
The minister further disclosed that Nigeria is working with other ECOWAS states to explore the development of a shared regional migration database, similar to Europe’s Schengen system, to improve intelligence-sharing and cross-border security.
Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, described the launch as a landmark achievement that underlines Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation. She said the biometric card would promote legal travel, boost tourism, attract investment and improve border controls, while enhancing the safety of travellers.
Nandap also thanked ECOWAS ambassadors, international development partners and security agencies for their support, noting that their collaboration was instrumental in delivering the project.
