FG unveils ECOWAS biometric identity card after 11 years

The Federal Government has launched the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), an initiative designed to enhance regional mobility, strengthen security, and advance integration across West Africa.

The rollout took place on Friday in Abuja, marking a significant milestone more than a decade after the regional process first began.

Speaking at the ceremony, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, described the event as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He noted that the launch comes 11 years after the idea was initiated, crediting President Bola Tinubu for insisting that Nigeria take its place as a leading force within the subregion.

“Today is about the President. When we launched NIMOT a few weeks ago, I referred to him as the Grand Innovator of the Federal Republic.

“This rollout, coming eleven years after the process started, is a testament to his drive for efficiency and timely delivery. That is the Nigerian standard”, Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister explained that Nigeria is now the seventh ECOWAS member state to adopt the card, which is rooted in a 1985 decision by the Authority of Heads of State and Government to strengthen the region’s biometric travel identity system in line with the protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment.

Tunji-Ojo emphasised that ENBIC will play a crucial role in intelligence gathering and border management.

“With this launch, we understand the implications for regional security. You cannot protect who you don’t know. People enter through our borders every day, and without proper identification, insecurity becomes the outcome. But with ENBIC, regular migration becomes an asset rather than a vulnerability”, he said.

The minister added that Nigeria plans to move toward integrating the card with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Public Key Directory, similar to Ghana’s adoption of the Ghana Card.

Representing George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mohammed Danjuma, Permanent Secretary for Special Services, described the rollout as the activation of “a powerful engine of regional transformation.”

“The ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card is a key that will unlock a new chapter of a secure, integrated, and prosperous West Africa.

“It reflects the core principles of lTinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, innovation, security, and inclusive economic growth”, Danjuma said.

Representing the President of ECOWAS,
Kalilou Sylla, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, said the move demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building a fully integrated West Africa.

In her remarks, Kemi Nandap, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), described the event as the culmination of years of planning, policy harmonisation, and technical collaboration across the subregion.

“This rollout signals a new era in regional mobility. ENBIC is built on a globally recognised security architecture and developed in line with international standards, including ICAO Annex 9 and chapter 3. It is machine-readable and embedded with advanced cryptographic features”, Nandap said.

She added that the initiative reflects the steadfast leadership of Tinubu and reinforces Nigeria’s transition toward a more digital and secure identity management system.