The launch took place at a high-profile ceremony at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja on Friday, attended by top officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, and heads of security agencies such as the DSS, NIA, NSCDC, and Corrections Service.

Representing SGF Dr George Akume, Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, hailed the cards as a “powerful engine for regional transformation.” 

He credited President Bola Tinubu, Minister Tunji-Ojo, and Nandap for fast-tracking the initiative, noting Nigeria’s pivotal role in ECOWAS since 1975. 

“The rollout of the ECOWAS Card is not the end of the journey, but a powerful new beginning,” he said, urging accessibility, private sector partnerships for financial inclusion, and uncompromised security.

Minister Tunji-Ojo described the ENBIC as the “foundation for identity management and authentication,” relieving pressure on passport systems and enabling passport-free travel within ECOWAS nations. 

“With these cards, you don’t need to travel within ECOWAS countries with passports,” he stated, emphasizing synchronized migration data for better border management. 

He announced the upcoming January 2026 launch of Single Travel Emergency Passports, allowing Nigerians abroad to return home via phone if documents are lost.

Comptroller-General Nandap called the launch a “landmark achievement” for free movement of persons, goods, services, and capital. 

The cards, equipped with secure biometric features, will enhance traveller identification, promote tourism, investment, and trade while bolstering regional security.

Six ECOWAS member states have already implemented the project, aligning with protocols to tackle security threats and economic hurdles. 

The ENBIC promises to unlock business opportunities, foster digital authentication, and support a prosperous sub-region.