Nigeria has launched the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card to improve regional security and simplify movement across West Africa. The event took place in Abuja and highlighted the government’s desire to modernise border systems. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the rollout supports President Bola Tinubu’s plan for efficient identity management and stronger security cooperation across the region.
The ECOWAS Biometric ID Card was first adopted in 2014, and Senegal began issuing it in 2016. Since then, several states have introduced it, and Nigeria has now joined as the seventh. The card contains an electronic chip that stores biometric information, and this helps reduce fraud. As a result, travellers can move more easily without relying on the old handwritten travel certificates.
Officials said the next step involves connecting the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card to the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s verification system. When this happens, border checks will become faster and more reliable. The government expects the new system to ease pressure on passport services and support traders, business owners, and frequent travellers within the region.
Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General Kemi Nandap added that the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card will support legal travel, strengthen security, and create more economic opportunities. She said the system will also help security agencies gather reliable data, making it easier to protect citizens and improve regional cooperation. Development partners, including the EU and UN-IOM, were also recognised for supporting the project.
