Nigeria has taken another major step in modernising its security and identity systems as the Federal Government formally introduced the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) on Friday.
The rollout marks a fresh phase in West Africa’s efforts to curb cross-border crimes, improve regional mobility and strengthen documentation standards across member states.
With this launch, Nigeria now joins six other ECOWAS countries already operating the biometric identity scheme.
The project had stalled for over a decade, but officials say the renewed drive under President Bola Tinubu paved the way for its completion.
At the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the card signals a complete shift in how Nigeria approaches border protection and identity verification.
He described the event as “a powerful new beginning,” noting that the project could have been completed years earlier but was delayed by weak political will. According to him, President Tinubu pushed aggressively for delivery.
“It is unlike the Nigerian standard. That is very unusual, but the good news is that President Tinubu came in, insisted on delivery, and today the promise has become a reality. This is leadership in action, not about what we will do but what we have done,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the new card would significantly improve intelligence gathering, reduce document fraud and prevent irregular migration across West Africa.
He added that the biometric system will integrate with global public key directories such as ICAO and relieve pressure on the Nigerian passport by offering an alternative for regional travel.
“If you are not travelling outside ECOWAS, you don’t need a passport. This card takes you anywhere within the region,” the minister explained.
He noted that the initiative aligns with recent reforms, including the deployment of the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), which allows authorities to process traveller data ahead of arrival.
“This government inherited problems but refused to give excuses. It has straightened situations others postponed,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service will introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January to assist stranded Nigerians who need to return home.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma said the project reflects Nigeria’s long-standing leadership in ECOWAS.
He recalled that the blueprint for the biometric travel card was first developed at an ECOWAS summit hosted in Nigeria in 2014.
According to him, the successful rollout “stands as a monument to shared political will” and demonstrates what West African nations can achieve by prioritising unity and collective security.
“Today we hold in our hands a simple card, but in our hearts we hold a profound hope,” Akume said through his representative.
He described the card as a symbol of empowerment for small traders, protection for migrant women, and a pathway to economic opportunities for millions of West Africans.
He urged member states to harmonise their databases to build a uniform identity architecture across the region, adding that fintech companies should begin exploring services and innovations around the new platform.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, also hailed the launch as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s travel and identity management systems.
“This is a strategic leap forward in modernising our identity and travel management systems,” she said.
She praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and credited the minister’s “dynamic guidance” for accelerating the project.
Nandap explained that the ENBIC replaces the old paper-based ECOWAS travel certificate and is supported by advanced biometric and cryptographic technology that meets ICAO and ECOWAS standards.
“Its biometric core, anchored on high-quality facial and fingerprint data, establishes a secure link between the holder and the credential. It will enhance verification, reduce document fraud, and disrupt transborder criminal networks,” she said.
She added that small businesses, tourism operators, and informal traders stand to benefit from faster processing at entry points, broader mobility, and improved regional cooperation.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, represented at the event, commended Nigeria for championing reforms at a time when the region faces widespread security threats.
“In this world crisis, the leadership of Nigeria inspires all the citizens of West Africa,” he said, adding that ECOWAS forces were currently maintaining stability in Guinea-Bissau.
Touray projected that Nigeria could emerge among the world’s top economies by 2100 if it continues on this path of regional leadership and technological advancement.
Also speaking, the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dimanche Sharon, described the card as “a very strategic step towards secure mobility,” noting that it will strengthen migration governance throughout ECOWAS.
Friday’s rollout attracted senior officials from Nigeria’s security agencies, ECOWAS representatives, foreign diplomats, and technology partners who worked on the project.