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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled the much-awaited Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) to broadened its regional security strategy and modernized national identity management.
The official unveiling, according to authorities, signals renewed offensive against transborder criminality, irregular migration and document falsification across West Africa.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Abuja in Friday, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said that the rollout has made Nigeria the seventh country in the sub-region to adopt the digital credential, recalling that the scheme which was conceived more than a decade ago has been finally revived under President Bola Tinubu’s results-driven leadership.
He said that the activation of the biometric card marks “a powerful new beginning” for regional mobility and security cooperation, noting that the project’s protracted delay did not reflect Nigeria’s capacity or ambition.
While disclosing that President Tinubu’s insistence on timely delivery accelerated its completion, Ojo said: “It is unlike the Nigerian standard, which is why this delay was unusual.”
“The good news is that President Tinubu pushed for action, and today the promise has become reality. This is what leadership looks like — not talk, but delivery,” he said.
The Interior Minister equally described ENBIC as the backbone of a modern identity and security system capable of transforming border control and intelligence gathering, stressing that reliable identification is essential to national and regional security.
He further explained that the new credential aligned with international public key infrastructures such as ICAO systems and will ease pressure on passport demand by providing a simpler travel option for movement within West Africa.
“If you are travelling only within ECOWAS, you no longer need a passport. This card is sufficient for all regional travel,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo linked the project to ongoing reforms in the country’s travel and border framework, including the deployment of the UN-mandated Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) in 2024, which grants authorities early visibility of inbound travellers.
Blaming the insecurity and criminalities in the country on the irregular cross boarder, he disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service will introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January to assist stranded citizens wishing to return home.
“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,” he added.
Earlier, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, had described the milestone as both historic and technologically significant.
She said the ENBIC replaces the old paper-based travel certificate built on advanced biometric and cryptographic architecture compliant with ECOWAS and ICAO standards.
“Its biometric core — anchored on high-quality facial and fingerprint data — provides a secure link between the holder and the credential. It will strengthen verification processes, reduce document fraud and disrupt the operations of cross-border criminal networks,” she said.
Beyond its security value, Nandap had equally highlighted its socio-economic benefits, noting that; “it will boost commerce, improve labour mobility, enhance tourism, quicken border formalities and deepen cooperation among West African nations.”
“It is a foundational tool for a more secure, integrated and prosperous region,” she added.
Equally speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, situated the rollout within Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to regional cohesion.
Represented by Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, he recalled that the technical blueprint for the biometric card was adopted at an ECOWAS summit hosted in Abuja in 2014, describing the launch as a testament to shared political will.
He said the card carries symbolic and practical significance, explaining: “In our hands is a simple card, but in our hearts lies a profound hope. It 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.”
Akume urged ECOWAS member states to accelerate the deployment of the card and harmonize national databases to build a fully interoperable regional identity system. He also challenged the private sector, especially fintech innovators, to build services atop the platform to drive inclusion and digital growth.
In the message on his behalf, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for once again asserting leadership at a time of significant regional challenges. He disclosed that ECOWAS forces were currently deployed in Guinea-Bissau to stabilise the situation and praised Nigeria’s continuing role in promoting peace and development across the bloc.
He projected that by the turn of the next century, Nigeria is expected to rank among the world’s top five economies, adding that the ENBIC rollout is “only the beginning” of a wider biometric identity ecosystem the region hopes to build.
The Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dimanche Sharon, also hailed the launch, describing the card as “a strategic step toward secure mobility” that will greatly enhance migration management and identity verification in the sub-region.
