FG Launches ECOWAS Biometric ID Card to Boost Regional Security

The Federal Government has officially launched the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as part of efforts to enhance regional integration, improve identity management, and strengthen security across West Africa.

The card was inaugurated on Friday in Abuja under the theme “ENBIC: Enhancing Regional Integration and Security.”

Tinubu Administration Fulfils Regional Security Vision

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the launch as the fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving border management and strengthening security across the region.

“The card provides the foundation for more efficient identification across borders, a crucial component in combating insecurity,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo noted that although the rollout was initiated 11 years ago, its full implementation has now been achieved under the current administration. Nigeria becomes the seventh ECOWAS country to deploy the biometric ID card, marking a major milestone in the region’s migration and identity reforms.

Background: A Decade-Long ECOWAS Project

The ENBIC was adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2014 as a modern replacement for the handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate. The first issuance began in Senegal on October 4, 2016. As of mid-2023, only six out of 15 ECOWAS member nations had fully deployed the card: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.
With Nigeria now joining, the number rises to seven.

The biometric ID is designed to function as:

• A regional identity card
• A travel document
• A residence permit

Card Features and Security Benefits

The ENBIC contains an electronic chip that stores both biometric and biographical data, including photograph, fingerprints, and date/place of birth, to enable secure identity verification.

According to Tunji-Ojo, the new ID will:

• Support legal migration within the region
• Reduce irregular movements
• Help combat identity fraud
• Improve regional security
• Create economic opportunities by easing travel and trade

He added that the next phase involves integrating the card into the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Public Key Directory, enabling seamless verification at all ECOWAS and international entry points.

“The ENBIC will support intelligence gathering and provide security agencies with reliable data needed to protect citizens,” the minister said.

Travel Within ECOWAS to Be Easier for Nigerians

Tunji-Ojo highlighted that the biometric card will also ease pressure on the Nigerian passport system, noting that Nigerians travelling within ECOWAS will no longer need international passports.
This will especially benefit traders and small business owners who frequently move across regional borders.

He also revealed that Nigeria is working with ECOWAS states on a regional migration database, similar to Europe’s Schengen model, aimed at further strengthening cross-border security.

NIS Commends Regional Cooperation

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, described ENBIC as a landmark step showcasing Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation.

“The new travel document features a secure biometric system aimed at facilitating legal movement, promoting tourism, trade, and investment, while strengthening border management,” she said.

Nandap outlined additional benefits of the biometric card, including:

• Enhanced regional security
• Improved border processing
• Safer travel
• Increased tourism and investment
• Stronger regional integration

She also acknowledged support from ECOWAS Ambassadors and international partners, including UN-IOM, EU, ICMPD, GIZ, UNIDO, as well as security agencies, media, and other stakeholders who contributed to the project’s success.