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The ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), which was adopted by the leadership of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2014, is what the Nigerian government is using to boost regional cooperation, streamline identity systems, and reinforce security measures throughout West Africa.
The administration said efficient recognition across borders is one of the most important components in fighting insecurity, and the ID card is a means to unify identification standards, close security gaps, and ensure that individuals can be reliably verified anywhere in ECOWAS states.
The launch of the ECOWAS ID card initiative began in 2014—that's about 11 years ago—and Nigeria, now the 7th ECOWAS country to deploy the card, says the card will help citizens by improving migration management. The first ECOWAS state to start issuing the biometric card was Senegal, on 4 October 2016.
The ECOWAS states that are now currently supporting and deploying the biometric cards are: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea‑Bissau, Benin, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. Notably, there are currently 12 member states in ECOWAS, after the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The remaining member states are Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. In essence, only seven members states are currently supporting and deploy the ECOWAS Biometric ID cards.
The goal and purpose: The ENBIC was established to replace the old, handwritten ECOWAS Travel Certificate, serving as a regional travel pass and residence permit for citizens of ECOWAS countries. The cards will offer more secure and modern identification system for people moving within the member states.
The biometric card carries an electronic chip that holds personal details and biometric information—such as photographs, fingerprints, and birth data—which helps authorities verify identities more accurately. By incorporating these features, the card reduces the likelihood of fraud and simplifies movement across West African borders.
