The Federal Government has unveiled the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, a digital identification system designed to enhance border security, curb irregular migration, and streamline identity verification across West Africa.
At the launch in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the card would modernize identity management and improve regional mobility.
“If you are travelling only within ECOWAS, you no longer need a passport. This card is sufficient for all regional travel,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted that the initiative, long delayed, gained momentum following directives from President Bola Tinubu to accelerate its delivery.
“With ENBIC, Nigeria is not only strengthening its borders but reaffirming its leadership in a region seeking safer mobility, deeper integration, and a digitally driven future,” the minister added.
Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma described the ENBIC as “a tool of dignity for migrant women, an enabler for cross-border traders, and a promise of a West Africa where borders become bridges of opportunity rather than barriers.”
He urged ECOWAS member states to harmonize national identity systems and integrate private-sector services into the platform.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, explained that the ENBIC replaces the old paper travel certificate and incorporates advanced biometric and cryptographic technology compliant with ECOWAS and ICAO standards.
She added that the card’s biometric features would strengthen verification, reduce document fraud, and disrupt cross-border criminal networks.
“Its biometric core—anchored on high-quality facial and fingerprint data—provides a secure link between the holder and the credential,” Nandap said.
In a statement, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, praised Nigeria’s leadership, noting that the rollout aligns with broader regional efforts to develop a biometric identity ecosystem.
With the launch, Nigeria becomes the seventh ECOWAS country to implement the card, a project first initiated more than a decade ago.
