ECOWAS ENBIC implementation: A game changer

ENBIC is the acronym for ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, a regional ID adopted in December, 2014 as a tool for enhancing cross-border travel and economic integration among the countries that make up the West African political and economic bloc. Since the launch, the rollout of the card has not been as strong as expected but ECOWAS authorities have been pushing for its adoption as one of the ways of bringing down travel and trade barriers within the region. The ENBIC is replacing the ECOWAS Travel Certificate which is currently in use as only a travel document that requires a resident card after 90 days’ stay in the ECOWAS member countries, while the ENBIC is now in use and also will serve as a travel document and as a resident card for citizens currently residing in any of the ECOWAS member states. The implementation of the Biometric Smart Card is an ECOWAS obligation that was adopted in 2014 by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments. Senegal, on October 4, 2016, became the first country to start issuing the cards, followed by Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Despite the implementation of the ENBIC by these West African countries, the ENBIC project has not been very successful and effective due to the lack of the presence and implementation of the ENBIC in Nigeria which has 60 to 70 percent of the ECOWAS population. Unfortunately, for the past ten years, Nigeria which is seen as the giant of Africa had not been able to join in the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) project until now after six West African countries had fully deployed the ENBIC as at June, 2024.

The recent commissioning of the state-of-the-art Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigerian Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja by the president is a welcome development. The magnificent edifice named after the president is more than a building; it is rather a bold step in modernizing immigration infrastructure and a powerful tool in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s borders, manage migration effectively, enhance national security and foster stronger ties within the ECOWAS region. This multifaceted complex comprises several critical components that include the Command and Control Centre for Regular Migration; the NIS Data Centre and Visa Approval Centre; the Interior Data Centre; the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) Centre; and the 4.1 MW Solar Farm.

The benefits of the ENBIC to Nigerians include, amongst others, the facilitation of free trade and travel movements, residence and the right to do business in any country of the region without the risk of compromising the national security of the host country, improved migration data exchange, improved economic growth and stability and travel document harmonisation cannot be overemphasised. This implementation by Nigeria will boost regional travel and economic integration among the ECOWAS member countries.

• Ibrahim, a security printer, writes in from Kaduna, Kaduna State.

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