Abuja – Nigeria has officially become the seventh country in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to roll out the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), a modern digital credential designed to replace the old ECOWAS Travel Certificate and Resident Permit.
The card aims to enable seamless movement across member states while strengthening regional security.
The launch, unveiled in Abuja on Friday by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to modernize identity management and border security.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the card as “the foundation of a security architecture where no one can hide behind anonymity,” emphasizing that accurate identification is central to national safety.
According to the Minister, ENBIC will aid security agencies in combating irregular migration, dismantling cross-border criminal networks, and enhancing intelligence gathering.
He added that while migration is welcomed, movement in and out of Nigeria must be regular, regulated, and visible.
“The ECOWAS Heads of Immigration Forum first proposed this card in 2014,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo said, “and its adoption today reflects Nigeria’s commitment to secure, efficient, and integrated regional travel. This is not rhetoric but results.”
The card will serve as a simpler alternative to passports for intra-ECOWAS travel and aligns with international standards, including ICAO systems. It also complements other border management reforms, such as the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) launched in 2024 and the upcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to assist stranded Nigerians.
Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, hailed the launch as a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to regional cohesion.
He described ENBIC as a tool of dignity for migrant women, an enabler for cross-border traders, and a promise of a West Africa where borders evolve into “bridges of opportunity rather than barriers.”
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the card replaces outdated paper-based documents with advanced biometric technology, including high-quality facial and fingerprint data, which will strengthen identity verification and curb document fraud.
She also highlighted the card’s socio-economic benefits, noting that it would boost trade, labour mobility, tourism, and regional cooperation.
Officials from the ECOWAS Commission and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) praised Nigeria’s leadership, describing the rollout as a strategic step toward secure mobility and stronger migration governance across West Africa.
