Stakeholders have said the rollout of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) will make cross-border travel within West Africa faster, easier and more secure.
They said the biometric card would strengthen identity verification at border posts and reduce delays associated with paper-based travel documents.
The stakeholders spoke at a media sensitisation workshop in Lagos organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with support from the European Union.
Nigeria began issuing the ENBIC through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in November 2025.
The Head of Border Management and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission in Nigeria, Obinna Ajugwo, described the card as an important tool for regional integration and the free movement of people.
“The ENBIC is not just a card; it is a symbol of the law of the region. Most importantly, it is an enabler of safe, secure and efficient movement across our region,” Ajugwo said.
The card contains a biometric chip carrying the holder’s identity information, enabling immigration officials to verify travellers and authenticate their documents at border posts.
Ajugwo said the system would also strengthen information sharing and verification among immigration authorities across ECOWAS member states.
“By providing a reliable and harmonised system of identification, the ENBIC will facilitate the exercise of the right to free movement, strengthen border management systems, enhance security cooperation amongst member states, and promote economic and social integration,” he said.
Seven ECOWAS member states have so far deployed the biometric card: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The regional bloc said in April that member states had committed to working towards mutual acceptance of the ENBIC at air, land and sea borders by December.
Ajugwo said the card was expected to speed up border clearance by reducing delays caused by inadequate travel information and difficulties in verifying travellers’ identities.
“When we get to the borders, we see that sometimes when you don’t have the right travel information, you end up spending more time at the border. This is where we are trying to use the most seamless border clearance… or fast border clearance,” he said.
The Head of the IOM Sub-Office in Lagos, Ali Ibrahim, said the initiative formed part of the broader ECOWAS framework for the free movement of people.
“By enhancing identity assurance and facilitating the movement of legitimate migrants, ENBIC contributes to a more efficient, secure and integrated mobility framework,” Ibrahim said.
However, stakeholders clarified that possession of the biometric card does not automatically confer residence rights on a citizen in another ECOWAS member state.
Under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment, citizens of member states can enter another member country without a visa and remain for up to 90 days, subject to the provisions of the protocol.
Those seeking to stay beyond the permitted period must comply with the residence requirements of the host country.
The Deputy Comptroller of Immigration in charge of ECOWAS and other travel documents at the NIS, Bennett Chiagoro, said Nigerians travelling for longer periods would still have to comply with the laws of their destination countries.
He explained that the biometric chip was a key security feature of the card, with the information stored on it carrying a digital signature from the issuing authority.
“Any attempt to alter the data on the card will automatically change the signature of the card. When we authenticate it at the border, it will lack that trust chain,” Chiagoro said.
Nigerians can apply for the ENBIC through an online NIS portal, where applicants can book appointments and monitor the progress of their applications.
The application process includes verification, biometric enrolment, validation, production and issuance. Applicants are required to submit personal information and supporting documents before biometric capture.
The NIS portal also provides options for checking payment status and receipts, correcting application details and reporting misplaced cards.
Stakeholders advised prospective travellers to confirm the latest application requirements and applicable fees as implementation progresses.
ECOWAS has described the ENBIC as a machine-readable travel document designed to replace the handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate. However, the NIS continues to provide information on the travel certificate, reflecting the different stages of implementation across member states.
The IOM said it would continue supporting ECOWAS and member states through training, operational readiness, knowledge sharing and implementation assistance.
Ibrahim said the success of the initiative should not be measured solely by the number of cards issued, but by whether it makes cross-border movement easier for people who depend on regional travel, including traders, young people and communities living around border areas.
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration in charge of the Passport and Other Travel Documents Directorate, Titilayo Olaiya, urged journalists to provide accurate information on the biometric card, particularly regarding eligibility and implementation.
She warned that misinformation at points of entry could create unnecessary difficulties for travellers.
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