FG Unveils ECOWAS Biometric Card as Nigeria Leads Push Against Cross-Border Crime

FG Unveils ECOWAS Biometric Card as Nigeria Leads Push Against Cross-Border Crime

The Federal Government on Friday intensified its regional security and identity-management reforms with the formal launch of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), marking Nigeria’s latest step in combating cross-border crimes, irregular migration and document fraud across West Africa.

With the rollout, Nigeria becomes the seventh country in the sub-region to activate the digital credential, which was conceived more than a decade ago but stalled until it was revived under what officials described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s results-driven administration.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the introduction of the biometric card represents “a powerful new beginning” for regional mobility and intelligence cooperation. He said the long delay in activating the scheme did not reflect Nigeria’s capacity or ambition, noting that President Tinubu’s insistence on timely delivery ensured its completion.

“It is unlike the Nigerian standard, which is why this delay was unusual,” he said. “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.”

The minister described ENBIC as the backbone of a modern identity and border-control system, explaining that its alignment with ICAO public key infrastructure will strengthen verification processes and ease passport demand by providing a simpler travel option within ECOWAS.

“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 rollout to wider reforms in the country’s travel ecosystem, including the deployment of the UN-mandated Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) last year. He also announced that the Nigeria Immigration Service will introduce the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January to support stranded Nigerians abroad.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, described the launch as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to regional integration. He recalled that the technical framework for the biometric card was adopted at an ECOWAS summit hosted in Abuja in 2014.

“In our hands is a simple card, but in our hearts lies a profound hope,” he said, noting that the ENBIC will support migrant women, expand opportunities for cross-border traders and promote a West Africa where borders serve as “bridges of opportunity rather than barriers.”

Akume urged other ECOWAS member states to accelerate the deployment of the card and harmonize national databases to build a fully interoperable regional identity system. He also encouraged fintech innovators and other private-sector players to develop services that can run on the platform.

Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the ENBIC replaces the old paper-based travel certificate and is built on advanced biometric and cryptographic architecture compliant with ECOWAS and ICAO standards. She noted that its fingerprint and facial-recognition features will strengthen identity verification, reduce document fraud and disrupt cross-border criminal networks.

Beyond security, Nandap said the digital credential will boost commerce, labour mobility, tourism and regional cooperation. “It is a foundational tool for a more secure, integrated and prosperous region,” she said.

In a message delivered on his behalf, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for asserting leadership at a challenging moment for the region. He disclosed that ECOWAS forces were currently deployed in Guinea-Bissau to stabilise the situation and praised Nigeria’s continued role in promoting peace and development.

He projected that Nigeria is expected to rank among the world’s top five economies by the next century, adding that the ENBIC launch is “only the beginning” of the broader biometric ecosystem the region is working to build.

The Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dimanche Sharon, also hailed the rollout, describing the card as a strategic step toward secure mobility and more efficient migration management across West Africa.